Mobile County DHR employee charged with abusing her mentally and physically handicapped brother (updated)

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By Theresa Seiger | tseiger@al.com Press-Register
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on May 21, 2013 at 2:52 PM, updated May 21, 2013 at 4:06 PM

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View full sizeEscorted by Mobile County deputies, 41-year-old Yolanda Thurman walks from Mobile County Sheriff's Office headquarters to Mobile County Metro Jail following her arrest on one count of elderly abuse and neglect on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (Mobile County Sheriff's Office photo)

MOBILE, Alabama -- A social service worker with the Alabama Department of Human Resources has been arrested after the elderly brother she cares for was found with laying in his own feces with multiple bed sores, according to the Mobile County Sheriff's Office.
Yolanda Thurman is accused of abusing her mentally handicapped, adult brother, said Lori Myles, public information officer for MCSO. She is facing one count of elderly abuse and neglect, a felony with a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Her brother was identified as Byrd Bunkley Jr., a mentally and physically handicapped adult who needs 24-hour care.

“The home was in such poor condition," said MCSO's Lt. Paul Burch. "Mr. Bunkley was laying in his own feces with bed sores all over his body. I do believe we saved his life.”

According to Myles, authorities were alerted to possible abuse after the victim's niece called Mobile County Emergency Medical Services following a visit to her uncle.
Thurman would not let anyone into the home, and emergency medical personnel called MCSO.

Yolanda Thurman, 41, was arrested by Mobile County deputies on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (Mobile County Sheriff's Office photo)

Deputies walking into the home were immediately hit by the putrid smell of the sores and feces, Myles said.
At a local hospital, doctors found "bed sores all over his [Bunkley's] body," and evidence of malnutrition, Myles said.
Thurman worked full-time with DHR as a social service case worker helping children through the foster care system, according to the department's Public Information Manager Barry Spear.
With the job, Myles said other people would come in and out of the home to care for Bunkley.
It is unclear how long he had been under Thurman's care.
Thurman has been with DHR since 2003 and works in the department's Mobile County office, Spear said.
Among other responsibilities, DHR is charged with investigating reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of both disabled and elderly adults.
Booking records show Thurman has no known prior arrests, however, a woman with the same first name, last name and address was arrested in 2008 on one count of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
The woman pictured in booking logs appears to be Thurman, although the birth date in records is two days off. She was also arrested in 1995 on multiple counts of negotiating a worthless instrument.
Deputies did not immediately return requests to confirm Thurman's identity.
Updated at 4 p.m. with additional information from MCSO.
Updated at 3:27 p.m. with information on previous arrests and Thurman's mug shot.
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