A Christian County grand jury will soon hear the abuse and neglect charges against an Oak Grove man and woman, after an officer testified Friday morning that the 70-year old victim was critically malnourished and nearly died on the operating table.
Investigators charged 43-year old Jacob Gilstrap and 39-year old Ann Harrison of Oak Grove with criminal abuse in the first-degree, knowing abuse or neglect of an adult and exploitation of an adult—all felonies. They have additionally been charged with eight counts of cruelty to animals in the second-degree after investigation by animal control.
Oak Grove Police Officer Michael Ferrell testified during a preliminary hearing in Christian District Court that Harrison called 911 last month and doctors at Tennova in Clarksville found 70-year old Anthony Gilstrap—Jacob’s father—with bones exposed and undetectable protein levels.
The victim was in septic shock and both of his legs had to be amputated and he nearly died during the first operation.
Officer Ferrell says the victim was living in deplorable conditions inside a camper next to the suspect’s house on Timberline Drive and numerous cats were also in the camper.
Adult protective services had been called earlier in the summer to check the victim’s welfare, but the suspects reportedly cleaned him up and brought him into their home with advanced notice they were coming.
Gilstrap and Harrison were in charge of the victim’s finances and bank staff confirmed to police that the victim’s account is overdrawn every month until his social security check is deposited. In addition to a monthly withdrawal to pay for the college dorm of Harrison’s son, there is a monthly electronic transaction for a life insurance policy on the victim.
The couple sold the victim’s home sometime early last year for $135,000 and used the money to buy a Jaguar sports car for Harrison and the camper that they moved to their home.
Jacob Gilstrap’s sisters told police they didn’t know for six months that the home had been sold and they were not given unfiltered access to their father.
Jacob Gilstrap waived his preliminary hearing and Judge Foster Cotthoff determined there was sufficient evidence for the case to be heard by a grand jury.
The judge left bond for both suspects at $100,000.
Listen to the entire hearing below: