Jackson, MS—A Tallahatchie County woman has been arrested and charged with exploitation of a vulnerable person, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.

Heather Cox, 35, of Enid,  was arrested Tuesday by officers with the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Tallahatchie County Sheriff’s Office assisting the Vulnerable Adults Unit of the Attorney General’s Office.  The arrest follows Cox’s indictment by the Grand Jury of Tallahatchie County on one count of exploitation of a vulnerable person.

Cox is accused of taking advantage of an 81-year-old resident of Tallahatchie County by taking over $7,000 from the victim who suffered from Alzheimers.  She is not related to the victim, but had allegedly solicited the victim for work around the victim’s home.

“In cases like this, we really appreciate the assistance of other law enforcement agencies,” said Attorney General Jim Hood.  “We thank Commissioner Chris Epps and Sheriff William Brewer, Jr. and their officers for assistance in this investigation and arrest.”

The case was investigated by Russell Frazier and Jamie Thompson, and will be prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Marvin Sanders of the Attorney General’s Vulnerable Adults Unit.

No court dates have yet been set in the case.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.