Multi-Agency Investigation Results in Charges Against Former Putnam Co. Senior Home Care Operator

Elder Abuse and Conspiracy to Obtain Controlled Substances Charges Result from District Attorney Investigation

In February of 2018, Criminal Investigators with the 13th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation into allegation claiming that the operator of the former facility known as Senior Lifestyles, an adult mental health group home located in Putnam County, was exploiting residents of the facility.   Multiple reports of criminal behavior had been received.  As the investigation progressed, Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation joined the investigation, evidence was obtained that not only indicated elder abuse was occurring but also evidence was discovered indicating that controlled substances were being diverted.  

Many agencies assisted in the investigation as it progressed and assisted in the execution of search warrants including, the District Attorney Generals Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Cookeville Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Comptrollers Office, the TN Department of Mental Health and the Social Security Administration.  

Evidence was submitted to the Putnam County Grand Jury seeking indictments in the investigation.
On Wednesday, September 19, 2018, the Putnam County Grand Jury found probable cause that criminal offenses had been committed by both Stephanie Lee Butler, the former operator of the Senior Lifestyles facility and Brian Fitzhugh Richey, FNP, a licensed nurse practitioner, who medically treated residents of the facility.

The Putnam County Grand Jury issued indictments as follows:
Stephanie Lee Butler was charged with:
*Conspiracy to obtain controlled substances by fraud;
*Obtaining controlled substances by fraud;
*Conspiracy to commit financial exploitation of an elderly/vulnerable adult;
*Financial exploitation of an elderly/vulnerable adult;
*Financial Exploitation (11 counts);
*felony theft;
*Identity Theft (4 counts);
*Money Laundering (6 counts)

Brian Fitzhugh Richey, FNP was charged with:
*Conspiracy to obtain controlled substances by fraud;
*Obtaining controlled substances by fraud;
*Conspiracy to commit financial exploitation of an elderly/vulnerable adult;
*Financial exploitation of an elderly/vulnerable adult;
The victims of the charged offenses were elderly and/or vulnerable adult residents of the former Senior Lifestyles, adult mental health group home. 
Stephanie Lee Butler was taken into custody and booked in the Putnam County jail on September 19, 2018.  Butler was held under $150,000 bond. Brian Richey turned himself into the Putnam County Jail September 20, 2018.  Richey is under $40,000 bond. 

The exploitation of elderly and vulnerable adults is a growing problem that this office takes very seriously. We would like to remind the public that the law makes it mandatory to report allegations of elder abuse.