Son accused of abusing elderly mother

COLUMBUS - Police say a 53-year-old man padlocked his 92-year-old mother inside their home and wouldn&#39;t let her out. <br> <br> Edwin Burkett was arrested Thursday morning on a charge of felony cruelty to the elderly. He was released on $2,500 bond. <br> <br> Police said they heard Helen Burkett&#39;s scream of ``help, help, let me out&#39;&#39; when they arrived at the home. Two officers had to break in to the home, which was padlocked from the outside with its windows nailed shut. <br> <br> Helen Burkett&#39;s body temperature was 93 degrees when emergency medical personnel arrived, authorities said. <br> <br> The officers told a judge the house smelled foul and there was only rotten food in the refrigerator. They said the temperature inside the house felt colder than outside, where it was 28.5 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. <br> <br> Edwin Burkett testified that he loved his mother and took care of her full-time. He said he locked his mother inside to prevent her from leaving while he was getting a coat and blankets for her.