Couple Arrested for Exploiting Vulnerable Seniors

Two individuals, Marie Tarah Carenan, 56, and Ronald Pack, 60, were arrested on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, for operating unlicensed assisted living facilities in Osceola and Polk counties. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office reported they are facing charges including scheme to defraud, aggravated elder abuse, elder abuse, elder neglect, elder exploitation, and welfare fraud.

The investigation, which lasted over a year, was initiated by a 911 call that led deputies to suspect abuse. Investigators discovered that neither Carenan nor Pack held licenses to operate these facilities, which were reportedly rented homes. The conditions found included locks on windows, doors, refrigerators, and food storage, along with a complete absence of lifesaving equipment or fire extinguishers.

Deputies noted that some residents required licensed care due to being bedridden, yet no licensed nurses were on site. In May 2025, a court order led to the relocation of five residents to a licensed facility. Search warrants executed on Wednesday morning led to the arrests at the suspects' home and at two of the unlicensed facilities, one housing nine residents and the other eight, each with minimal caregiver support.