NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — A husband and wife who operated a small assisted living facility in North Charleston face multiple felony charges — including neglect resulting in death — after a 64-year-old resident died from complications of severe, untreated pressure wounds, and investigators subsequently discovered two additional vulnerable adults confined to a locked room with no way out of the building.
Thaddeus Moose, 64, of Charleston, passed away on April 14, 2025, at the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Hospital, four days after being transported from Park Circle Assisted Living Facility on Bexley Street, according to Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O'Neal. Authorities withheld his identity until the conclusion of an extensive investigation that culminated in arrests on March 3, 2026.
The Charleston County Coroner's Office determined that Moose's death resulted from septic shock, bronchopneumonia, and dehydration brought on by multiple stage 4 decubitus ulcers complicated by osteomyelitis — all attributed to medical neglect, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Brittney Martin. The manner of death was officially classified as homicide.
"After an extensive investigation, the cause of death was determined to be septic shock, bronchopneumonia, and dehydration due to multiple stage 4 decubitus ulcers with osteomyelitis due to medical neglect. The manner of death is best deemed homicide," Martin stated in an official release, as reported by WCSC.
Charges and Investigation
Cynthia Kelly, 58, and Reginald V. Kelly, 60, each face one count of abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death, two counts of neglect of a vulnerable adult, and two counts of kidnapping, according to the South Carolina Attorney General's Office. The neglect charge carrying the most severe penalty is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, while the four additional felony counts could carry up to 70 more years combined.
Arrest warrants allege the couple failed to provide the care, goods, and services necessary to safeguard the health and safety of residents in their facility between June 12, 2024, and April 10, 2025 — a span of roughly 10 months during which Moose was under their care, according to ABC News 4.
The investigation began after the Charleston County Coroner's Office flagged suspicious circumstances surrounding Moose's death and contacted the state's Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit. When investigators from that unit and the North Charleston Police Department executed a search warrant at the Bexley Street property on March 3, 2026, they found two additional vulnerable adults locked inside a room within the facility with no means of leaving the building, according to the Attorney General's Office.
Representatives from the South Carolina departments of public health, social services, and health and human services, along with the state long-term care ombudsman, responded to assist with removing the remaining residents, according to WCSC. All residents have since been relocated from Park Circle Home and an adjacent facility called Windsor Hill RCF, as reported by ABC News 4.
"Protecting our state's vulnerable population is a mission shared by my office and law enforcement agencies throughout the state," South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a statement. "Today, I want to recognize the great work by the North Charleston Police Department and the Charleston County Coroner's Office for their efforts in assisting in this investigation."
Warning Signs and Prior Complaints
According to reporting by ABC News 4, at least two complaints had been filed regarding Park Circle Assisted Living during its operation. One complaint documented a resident who was hospitalized within a month of admission and was found to be suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, advanced stage 3 to 4 pressure ulcers, an infected surgical site, and had a caregiver who allegedly threatened violence. The facility had been operating since 2017, and its license reportedly remained active throughout the investigation period.
Stage 4 pressure ulcers represent the most severe classification of bedsores, in which tissue damage extends through the skin and underlying fat down to muscle and bone. Federal regulations require care facilities to ensure residents receive treatment and services to prevent the development of pressure ulcers and to promote healing of any that do develop. When these wounds go untreated, they can lead to life-threatening infections including sepsis and osteomyelitis — an infection of the bone — both of which were cited as contributing factors in Moose's death.
CMS Inspection History
It is important to note that Park Circle Assisted Living Facility, classified as a community residential care facility under South Carolina law, operates under a different regulatory framework than federally certified nursing homes tracked by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS inspection data is available for Kempton of Charleston, a nearby federally certified skilled nursing facility in Charleston with 23 beds and a 5-out-of-5-star overall rating.
Kempton of Charleston, which is a separate for-profit corporate entity, has recorded only five total deficiencies across three inspections in CMS records — a notably clean record. Its most recent inspection on May 6, 2025, resulted in a single deficiency related to infection prevention and control programming, rated at a "D" severity level, indicating isolated incidents with minimal potential for harm. A February 2024 inspection cited issues with pharmaceutical services, drug labeling and storage, and food procurement and safety standards.
The contrast between the oversight applied to CMS-certified nursing facilities and smaller assisted living or community residential care homes underscores a significant gap in the regulatory landscape. As reported by ABC News 4, South Carolina ranks 50th out of 51 jurisdictions nationwide for elder abuse protections, according to a WalletHub analysis — a statistic that advocates say this case tragically illustrates.
Ownership & Operations
Park Circle Assisted Living operated as a community residential care facility, a category of senior care homes in South Carolina that typically faces less rigorous oversight than larger nursing homes subject to federal CMS inspections. The facility was operated directly by Cynthia and Reginald Kelly, who controlled day-to-day care decisions for residents. The case has prompted renewed scrutiny of how South Carolina licenses and monitors smaller care facilities, particularly those serving vulnerable adults who may have limited family oversight or advocacy.
Resources for Families
Families who have concerns about the care of a loved one in a South Carolina assisted living facility or nursing home should contact the following resources:
- South Carolina Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 1-800-868-9095 — Ombudsman advocates can investigate complaints, mediate disputes, and help ensure residents receive appropriate care. - National Elder Care Locator Hotline: 1-800-677-1116 — A federally funded resource connecting callers with local services for older adults. - Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center: [ltcombudsman.org](https://ltcombudsman.org) — Provides state-by-state directories and information about residents' rights.
If you suspect abuse or neglect at any care facility, do not wait to report it. Contact local law enforcement, Adult Protective Services, or the ombudsman program immediately. In emergency situations where a resident's life may be in danger, call 911.
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