In a deeply troubling case out of Florida, a woman stands accused of confining her 77-year-old mother, who suffers from dementia and Alzheimer’s, within her bedroom, and neglecting her basic hygiene needs. Allegations against the woman, identified as Janet Edwards, suggest she refused to change her mother’s soiled diapers, reportedly telling her own children, “she’s going to learn,” after the elderly woman had accidents on multiple occasions.

The arrest affidavit reveals further disturbing claims, stating, “The defendant said on five occasions she has seen the victim with feces in her hands and consuming it.” Edwards, aged 49, now faces serious charges of neglect of an elderly or disabled adult and battery on a person 65 or older. Her children have come forward with accusations that she slapped their grandmother and intentionally left her without care in their shared Hialeah home.

Events unfolded in May 2025, as documented in the affidavit, when Edwards’ adult son visited to check on his grandmother. He reportedly discovered her in a distressing state, locked in her room, wearing soiled diapers, and holding feces in her hands. When he requested Edwards to clean her, she allegedly refused, insisting the elderly woman needed to “learn her lesson” following similar incidents in the past.

Authorities detailed the conditions in which the elderly woman was found, noting, “The bedroom door was locked from the outside,” and that she was observed lying on an air mattress without access to electricity. This case shines a light on the critical importance of safeguarding vulnerable populations and ensuring that elderly individuals receive the care and dignity they deserve.

“The bedroom door was locked from the outside,” according to police. “[The son] observed the victim laying on an air mattress and there was no electricity.”

Police report that the son, who has not been publicly identified, was taken away from Edwards when he was 14 years old “due to child abuse allegations” that were investigated by the Department of Children and Families. His paternal grandparents were given custody of him, the affidavit says.

Edwards’ adult daughter also reported instances of neglect and abuse to local authorities, with her listed as a witness to incidents in August and September, according to police.

The daughter provided text messages to cops that she received from Edwards, showing her grandmother holding feces. “[Edwards] wrote in the messages she smelled s— and was going back to bed.”

Edwards was taken into custody following an investigation and questioned about why she treated her mother this way, according to police. “The defendant said the victim is diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and that she does not recognize anyone anymore,” the affidavit alleges. “The defendant said she lives at the home with just the victim and she is the only caregiver.”

Asked why she would allegedly send messages and not clean her mom up, Edwards told cops it was “because she was upset or frustrated.” She gave this same excuse for why she told her son that the victim was “going to learn,” according to the affidavit.

“The defendant denied ever slapping or hitting the victim,” cops say.

Edwards was taken into custody and booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. She was released Wednesday and ordered to stay away from her mother as she awaits her next court date on Dec. 19.