Woman charged with locking up, starving brother

Police say an Alabama woman locked her developmentally disabled brother in his room and starved him.

The Tuscaloosa News reports that 53-year-old Lynette Franks was charged with felony abuse and neglect of a protected person. She pleaded guilty last month. Her sentence starts Saturday.

Tips about neglect led Tuscaloosa police to conduct a welfare check on Frank's 46-year-old brother in July 2017 and again that November. They say he lost more than 80 pounds (36 kilograms) between the two visits and was covered in bed sores and dried feces.

Police say Franks told officers her refrigerator and pantry were locked to prevent her brother "from eating everything." She told them she also locked the man in his room to limit his movements.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.