An investigation into the exploitation of a vulnerable adult has led to multiple arrests, the removal of children and animals from a home in Philpot, and the recovery of stolen property, according to the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said the investigation began in April after the death of an adult male who had recently moved into a residence in the 5200 block of Pleasant Valley Road, where the suspects lived. Prior to his death, the man had resided in his own home in the 2100 block of Fieldcrest Drive in Owensboro, according to a DCSO release.
DCSO said several neighbors of the victim reported suspicious activity at the Fieldcrest Drive home, including unknown individuals entering and exiting the property in the weeks before the victim was moved. Those reports prompted an initial investigation by Deputy Tommy Ferry and later by Detective Matt Fitzgerald of DCSO’s Criminal Investigations Division, the release says.
Authorities say they discovered forged legal documents — including a will and property deeds — as well as financial exploitation involving pawned items, missing safety deposit box contents, and fraudulent bank transactions. Detectives believe one suspect moved into the Fieldcrest home, then facilitated the victim’s move to Pleasant Valley Road shortly before his death — despite the victim still owning the Fieldcrest property.
More than $20,000 worth of the victim’s property was located at area pawn shops, DCSO said, and multiple items — including firearms and a Mercedes vehicle — were found at the suspects’ residence. Investigators said the victim, due to health concerns, was no longer able to drive at the time of his death.
On Friday, DCSO detectives, patrol deputies, and animal control officers executed a search warrant at the Pleasant Valley Road home. Multiple individuals were detained, interviewed at DCSO, and subsequently lodged at the Daviess County Detention Center.
Due to what DCSO described as “unacceptable living conditions,” which included open access to drugs and firearms, the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) removed two children from the home. DCSO Animal Control also removed several animals from the property, citing neglect and poor conditions.
According to DCSO, the suspects and their charges include:
- Jessie A. Hoge, 34, of the 5200 block of Pleasant Valley Road
- Forgery – 2nd Degree
- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
- Knowingly Exploiting Adult by Person Over $300
- Receiving Stolen Property $1,000-$10,000
- Cruelty to Animals – 2nd Degree
- Patricia K. Hoge, 54, of the 5200 block of Pleasant Valley Road
- Possession of Marijuana (Firearm Enhanced)
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Firearm Enhanced)
- Endangering the Welfare of a Minor
- Crystal Starr Hoge, 41, of the 5200 block of Pleasant Valley Road
- Possession of Marijuana (Firearm Enhanced)
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Firearm Enhanced)
- Endangering the Welfare of a Minor
- Brittany Jo Gray, 28, of the 5200 block of Pleasant Valley Road
- Forgery – 2nd Degree
- Cruelty to Animals – 2nd Degree
- Damien Moak, 35, of the 5200 block of Pleasant Valley Road
- Endangering the Welfare of a Minor (Cited into court)
DCSO said the investigation remains active and further arrests or charges may follow.
Sheriff Brad Youngman emphasized the importance of community vigilance in protecting vulnerable individuals.
“DCSO would like these arrests to serve as a warning to those in our community who would prey on the most vulnerable members of society,” Youngman said. “What they did was very wrong. If you have elderly or infirm people in your family or neighborhood, please keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t fall victim to this type of criminal activity. While I wish we could have intervened sooner, it is my hope that the actions of my deputies and detectives can still bring justice to this victim and his family. Thank you to the victim’s neighbors who saw something that didn’t look right and reported it to law enforcement. Without their involvement, we may never have uncovered these crimes.”
