NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Two operators of a residential care facility in North Charleston have been arrested and charged with causing a vulnerable adult's death through alleged neglect, according to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Cynthia Kelly, 58, and Reginald V. Kelly, 60, who ran Park Circle Home on Bexley Street, face multiple felony charges following a multi-agency investigation that began after suspicious circumstances surrounding a resident's death.
According to the Attorney General's office, the joint investigation involved the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF), North Charleston Police Department, and Charleston County Coroner's Office. The Charleston County Coroner's Office initiated contact with state investigators after identifying concerning details related to the death of a facility resident.
State investigators determined that the Kellys' alleged neglect between June 12, 2024, and April 10, 2025, caused the death of 64-year-old Thaddeus Moose, according to the Attorney General's announcement. The coroner's office reported that Moose died from septic shock, bronchopneumonia, and dehydration resulting from multiple stage 4 pressure ulcers with bone infection due to medical neglect. The manner of death was classified as homicide by the coroner.
Additional Residents Found in Locked Room
On March 3, 2026, investigators executed a search warrant at Park Circle Home and discovered two additional vulnerable adults confined in a room with no means of exit, according to the investigation findings. VAMPF concluded that the conditions either caused or created substantial risk of physical and mental harm to the residents.
Multiple state agencies responded to the facility to assist with relocating the remaining residents, including the South Carolina Departments of Public Health, Social Services, Health and Human Services, and the Long Term Care Ombudsman.
"Protecting our state's vulnerable population is a mission shared by my office and law enforcement agencies throughout the state," Attorney General Wilson stated in an announcement praising the collaborative investigative effort.
Criminal Charges Filed
The Kellys face serious criminal charges stemming from the investigation. Warrants accuse the couple of failing to provide necessary care, goods, and services to ensure residents' health and safety at the Community Residential Care Facility they operated.
According to the Attorney General's office, each defendant is charged with 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 related to the residents found locked in the room during the search warrant execution.
The charges reflect South Carolina's legal framework for protecting vulnerable adults in residential care settings. Under state law, caregivers and facility operators have a legal duty to provide adequate care, supervision, and safe living conditions for residents who depend on them for basic needs.
Understanding Care Facility Oversight
Community Residential Care Facilities in South Carolina provide housing and supportive services for adults who need assistance with daily living activities but do not require nursing home-level care. These facilities are regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, which conducts licensing inspections and investigates complaints.
Federal and state regulations establish minimum standards for resident care, including requirements for nutrition, hygiene, medical attention, and safe living conditions. Facility operators must ensure residents receive appropriate care based on their individual needs and maintain conditions that protect residents from harm.
Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores or decubitus ulcers, develop when prolonged pressure reduces blood flow to skin and underlying tissue. Stage 4 pressure ulcers represent the most severe category, extending into muscle and bone. These wounds are largely preventable through proper positioning, hygiene, nutrition, and regular monitoring—basic care responsibilities that facility staff must fulfill.
Regulatory Response and Resident Relocation
The multi-agency response to remove remaining residents from Park Circle Home reflects standard protocol when serious safety concerns are identified at a care facility. The South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman program advocates for residents' rights and works to ensure their safe placement following facility closures or evacuations.
The Department of Social Services assists with coordinating alternative placements for displaced residents, while the Department of Health and Human Services addresses Medicaid-related concerns for residents receiving publicly funded care.
The Department of Public Health's involvement typically includes assessing immediate health and safety risks and determining whether emergency enforcement actions are necessary to protect residents.
Resources for Families
Families with loved ones in residential care facilities should know their rights and available resources. The South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman program provides free, confidential assistance to residents and families dealing with concerns about care quality, safety, or residents' rights.
The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center can be reached at 1-800-677-1116 for information about local ombudsman programs and assistance with care facility concerns.
Families who suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults should report concerns immediately to the South Carolina Department of Social Services Adult Protective Services division or local law enforcement. Signs of potential neglect include unexplained injuries, significant weight loss, poor hygiene, untreated medical conditions, and unsafe living environments.
The South Carolina Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates allegations of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation in facilities that receive Medicaid funding. The unit works with local law enforcement and state agencies to hold caregivers and facility operators accountable when residents suffer harm due to substandard care.
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