A 58-year-old woman is recovering in the hospital after authorities say she escaped a basement where she had been held captive for roughly two years. The investigation began on March 15 when the woman broke a window at a house in Saginaw, Michigan, to beg for help.
The homeowner immediately called 911, leading police to a nearby residence where the alleged imprisonment took place.
Tasha Beamon, 48, was arrested and charged with one count of unlawful imprisonment and one count of first-degree vulnerable adult abuse. Beamon, who served as the woman’s caretaker, is currently being held at the Saginaw County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
According to court documents, the victim was in a state of severe malnourishment when officers arrived. She told investigators that her sister-in-law kept her locked in the basement, rarely provided food, and denied her access to water.
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The conditions described in the police report were stark; during a search of the home, officers found a single mattress on the basement floor and a bucket filled with urine. The door leading to the area had been kept locked.
“She told officers she was not fed very often and that she didn’t have any access to water,” an officer noted in the court filings.
Medical professionals categorized the woman as a vulnerable adult and admitted her to a local hospital for treatment following her rescue. Investigators questioned Beamon shortly after the victim’s statement and filed formal charges soon after.
As of this week, it remains unclear if Beamon has entered a plea or if she has retained legal counsel to speak on her behalf regarding the allegations.
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