Hilton Head man arrested for fatal neglect of his 87-year-old mother, police say
A Hilton Head Island resident is behind bars for the alleged continual neglect of his mother that investigators say led to her untimely death in October 2023. Police reports indicate the man allowed his mother to live in filthy conditions and blocked her from receiving medical care.
Jeffrey Page Howell, 65, was charged Monday afternoon with abuse of a vulnerable adult resulting in death. The felony offense is punishable by up to 30 years in prison under South Carolina law.
Howell was the son and caretaker of 87-year-old Alma Greer, who died Oct. 5, 2023, inside their shared apartment at the Woodhaven Garden Villas about a mile from Coligny Beach. Beaufort County Coroner David Ott ruled Greer’s death a homicide, saying she died from “complications of neglect,” including malnutrition and dehydration.
Responding to Greer’s death inside the apartment, Beaufort County EMS crews had to move her body into a hallway to perform life-saving measures “because their unit was bombarded with items,” according to an incident report from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to the signs of hoarding, the report noted the apartment’s “entire ceiling was covered with cobwebs.”
A paramedic on scene told police he had been dispatched to the apartment before and had contacted The Department of Social Services twice regarding Greer’s health and living conditions, once around September 2023 and again in August, the report says.
In a police interview, Howell said his mother did not have any major health issues and appeared to be in “good standing” during her last doctor’s appointment. He added that Greer’s health began to rapidly decline in mid-September 2023 as she was “no longer able to move around and walk,” according to the incident report.
Howell also told police he believed doctors and nurses had done nothing to help his mother and were “pumping her full of toxins” during her previous hospital visits, the report says. He said he “had her discharged every time” and declined medical assistance for his mother as he “did not believe in medications.”
Based on the state of the apartment, Beaufort County police concluded the case appeared to involve neglect of a vulnerable adult and launched an investigation.
Sheriff’s deputies obtained a warrant for Howell on Monday and he was arrested at his residence shortly after, according to spokesperson Master Sgt. Danny Allen. The arrest was delayed while police waited for autopsy results and other medical information, he said.
Howell was granted a $100,000 surety bond in a Tuesday hearing, meaning he would be required to pay at least $10,000 to a bondsman prior to his release. As of Tuesday afternoon, he had not posted bail and remained in custody at the Beaufort County Detention Center.
Just over 29% of people in Beaufort County are aged 65 and over, leaving local residents especially vulnerable to elder abuse crimes. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said in June of this year that reports of crimes against vulnerable adults had increased 30% in the past two years, partially due to an increase in awareness within local law enforcement.
