No murder charges in elder abuse case

GAINESVILLE - The Hall County District Attorney confirmed Friday he will not press murder charges against a Hall County couple in the death of a woman authorities say was the victim of elder abuse.

Lee Darragh said the autopsy shows Gladys Smallwood, 79, had a serious heart condition that led to her death last month.

Darragh will continue to pursue charges of forgery and cruelty to a person 65 or older against her son, Larry Smallwood, and his live-in girlfriend, Brenda Jean Ivey.

The forgery charge stems from allegations the couple had been cashing the woman's Social Security checks.

They were arrested several days after Smallwood died. Darragh said the next step in the proceedings against the couple is to present the case to a grand jury.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/5/209584