In this powerful and somber episode of the monthly Rutherford County District Attorney's Show on the WGNS Action Line, host J. Paul Newman is joined by a distinguished panel of Rutherford County experts to confront the harrowing reality of elder abuse within the community.

The program opens with a chilling 911 call that revisits the brutal 2009 murder of 81-year-old Lorraine Van Blarcom, who was killed by her son, Roger G. Van Blarcom. Her own son beat her to death with a bat.

In the original, haunting call to dispatchers, which you'll hear on the podcast above this description, the victim's son remained calm as he told authorities he wanted to report what he called a premeditated first-degree murder. While on the initial call to 911, the man expresses a cold-blooded intent to "finish her off," further showing the absolute necessity of intervention in cases like this and the gravity of the mission facing the Rutherford County District Attorney’s Office.

The episode is a stark reminder that while we often view our homes as sanctuaries, they can sometimes be the site of unimaginable domestic tragedies for the most vulnerable among us.

The second half of the broadcast shifts focus toward the pervasive and often invisible threat of financial exploitation, a growing epidemic targeting senior citizens. Rutherford County Assistant District Attorney Tammy Rettig and Detective Dennis Ward of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department detail the workings of VAPIT (Vulnerable Adult Protective Investigative Team), a multidisciplinary task force designed to streamline the investigation of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The guests engage in a detailed discussion about common modern scams—from sophisticated "romance" and "urgency" tactics to the misuse of digital payment apps like Zelle and Cash App—explaining how fear and kindness are weaponized against the elderly. Though the subject matter is serious, the episode serves as an empowering guide for residents, providing concrete steps on how to report suspicious activity and emphasizing that no victim should ever feel too embarrassed to seek justice.

Hear the full podcast by clicking the play button above this description, or right-click to save the show to your computer or phone to listen later.