HITCHCOCK, Texas – A disabled man, who was subjected to brutal abuse at the hands of his own family members who were practicing home remedies on him, has died, according to the Hitchcock Police Department.
The victim, 45-year-old Edwin Colleson, was pronounced dead at HCA Houston – Mainland hospital on Sunday, a few days after he was found suffering horrific injuries at a Hitchcock home, where his caregivers were taken into custody.
His mother, 66-year-old Billie Jean Barnes, and stepfather, Timothy Ray Ellis, 51, have each been charged with injury to a disabled Individual, a first-degree felony.
The disturbing details outlined in a news release described the abuse Barnes endured.
On Nov. 30, Hitchcock police officers responded around 11:30 p.m. to the Highland Bayou RV Park located at 9202 Highway 6 for a medical call involving an unresponsive person.
They arrived to find paramedics already on the scene rendering life-saving aid to a “frail, mentally and physically incapacitated” adult male, according to the release.
The victim, who weighed only 70 pounds, suffered from severe muscular atrophy, and was covered in bedsores, feces, and urine. The victim was also missing parts of his bottom lip and an unknown number of teeth, the report said.
Upon investigation, it was learned that the victim had been diagnosed with an intellectual disability and had been allegedly tethered to his room inside the rear of the residence for approximately two weeks.
Investigators said the victim displayed several scars and scabs where he had been forcibly restrained by his stepfather, Ellis, and biological mother, Barnes. It was also discovered that Ellis, attempted to heal all the victim’s medical and cognitive ailments holistically with no formal holistic training, while his mother did nothing to stop the torturous procedures.
Investigators said Ellis restrained the victim by binding his wrists together and around his neck to subdue him from acting out. It was also noted that Ellis had cut open and removed “cauliflower ear” from the victim before attempting to stitch the wound closed with a fishing line at the residence.
The term “cauliflower ear” refers to a deformity of your ear that’s caused by blunt force trauma. The condition is common among boxers, wrestlers and martial artists, but it can happen to anyone who sustains an injury to their outer ear.
The malnourished victim was subsequently transported to HCA Houston – Mainland hospital in critical condition by EMS where he currently remains in critical condition.
Once at Mainland Hospital, it was discovered that the victim’s flesh was mutilated and rotting from a time of significant and considerable neglect.
“It just shocks me hearing about this because I didn’t even know he (Ellis) had his son in there,” said neighbor, Jahnna Bond. “I just can’t believe it. And it is a very small RV.”
A spokesperson for Adult Protective Services said there was no prior history with the family, but encouraged the public to report abuse.
“It was sick knowing he was in there and you couldn’t help him,” said neighbor, James Bennett.
The state of Texas also offers support for caregivers.
The Galveston County District Attorney’s office was contacted and made aware of the circumstances of the investigation and agreed to charge Ellis and Barnes, with a bond of $250,000 each. They were both arrested and transported to the Galveston County Jail.
Barnes’s mother was notified of his death at the jailhouse, where she remains.
“Disabled persons, along with children, are the most vulnerable people in our society. And crimes against disabled persons are, therefore, particularly heinous,” said Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady. “The Texas Penal Code recognizes the vulnerability of disabled persons and establishes harsh penalties for their abuse and exploitation. We intend to pursue the prosecution of these cases with the full vigor and energy the law allows.”
