A Missouri man has been federally indicted after allegations that he kept his disabled uncle confined in a garage and collected government checks intended for the veteran’s care.
Missouri man severely neglected quadriplegic uncle
Federal prosecutors say 44-year-old Brian Ditch began collecting his uncle’s disability benefits in 2008 after being assigned as his caretaker.
Authorities claim Ditch unlawfully obtained more than $650,000 from federal agencies by continuing to cash benefit checks long after his uncle had died.
Ditch now faces a total of eleven felony charges, including four counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of stealing government funds, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The indictment was announced on May 7 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
According to the indictment, Ditch subjected his uncle, a U.S. Army veteran and quadriplegic, to extreme neglect by keeping him confined inside a garage for long periods, even days at a time.
Prosecutors say the man, identified as Thomas Clubb, was left unable to access food or water and was forced to sit in his own waste.
Despite these conditions, Ditch allegedly received $9,559 each month from the Department of Veterans Affairs during this time.
In addition to the VA disability compensation, Clubb was also eligible for Social Security benefits.
From 2008 onward, the Social Security Administration paid out $235,210 in disability and retirement benefits on his behalf.
Missouri man covered up uncle’s death
Federal authorities believe Clubb died in 2019. Rather than reporting his death, Ditch allegedly lied to family members, claiming he had placed his uncle in a nursing facility.
This allowed him to continue cashing the government checks meant for his care.
It wasn’t until March of this year that authorities located Clubb’s remains. His body was found inside a garbage can in a shed, partially frozen and wrapped in a plastic bag.
Alongside the remains, investigators discovered three shotguns. Ditch, being a convicted felon, was not legally allowed to own or handle firearms.
According to prior reporting from KDSK, the Missouri man had previous criminal convictions that included burglary and domestic battery.
Clubb, the victim, had been rendered paralyzed at the age of 19 following a car accident in Germany while he was serving in the military.
He also suffered from dementia and had no ability to move his limbs or control his bowels.
Family suspicions mounted after failed attempts to contact Clubb at the nursing home he had allegedly been placed in spurred law enforcement involvement.
On March 21, Clubb’s body was located in a state of partial preservation inside a trash can in a shed on the property.
Authorities say the money Ditch stole was used on extravagant personal purchases.
“According to the release, Ditch used his uncle’s benefits payments to buy exotic reptiles, ‘fund lavish vacations’ and ‘enrich himself.’”
Gregory Billingsley, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, issued a warning about targeting vulnerable veterans.
“The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is committed to holding accountable anyone who exploits veterans or steals their VA benefits,” Billingsley stated.
“VA’s programs and services are established to justly compensate deserving veterans and the VA OIG will bring to justice those who would defraud these programs.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman also commented on the nature of the alleged crimes. “
This is an abhorrent, reprehensible crime, a crime committed against a family member, a veteran. Somebody without the use of their arms and legs. It’s a disturbing and flagrant lack of regard for human life,” Wiseman said.
Florida nurse abused quadriplegic teenager
In a separate case in Florida, a home healthcare worker is facing serious criminal charges after authorities say she was captured on video nearly suffocating a disabled teen patient during her shift.
Nia Ayers, 24, has been charged with aggravated abuse of an elderly or disabled person, according to the St. Cloud Police Department.
Investigators say the victim, an 18-year-old girl with cerebral palsy and quadriplegia, is entirely reliant on caregivers for survival. The teen is non-verbal and developmentally delayed, the arrest warrant says.
Ayers had reportedly been caring for the young woman every Friday for the past year.
The victim’s mother became alarmed on May 3 when she noticed “red scratches” around her daughter’s eye and mouth.
After checking out the surveillance footage in the room, the mother said she “observed several instances where Ayers was aggressive and abusive with her daughter while caring for her that evening.”
One officer who reviewed the footage detailed disturbing scenes in the warrant.
“I observed Ayers place tape on [the victim’s] mouth and then very aggressively hold a wash cloth tight to [the victim’s] mouth,” the officer wrote. “I observed Ayers then aggressively rip the tape off [the victim’s] mouth.”
The girl’s mother explained that the tape was meant solely to help close her daughter’s eyes during sleep and was never approved for use on her mouth.
Further review of the video allegedly shows Ayers yanking the teen’s left arm violently and pressing a washcloth against her mouth in a way that appeared to restrict her breathing.
The victim reportedly attempted to pull away and showed visible signs of distress during these moments.
Authorities also claim Ayers was seen shaking the girl’s breathing device so hard that her nose began bleeding. Other acts included rubbing her face roughly with a towel and pinching her near the mouth.
Police say Ayers surrendered to law enforcement on May 7.
