Kings County Trial Puts Spotlight on Elder Abuse

A murder trial in Kings County has focused the community's attention on elder abuse.

On May 20, the Kings County District Attorney's Office filed a criminal complaint alleging that Kelli Yingling committed murder and elder abuse between April 29 and May 7 of this year.

The DA's Office added an additional count: that the defendant committed elder abuse on December 12, 2023.

The victim of all of the alleged crimes was Kelli Yingling's mother, Peggi. Last year, Kelli Yingling was placed on felony probation for elder abuse and criminal threats against her mother.

On May 18, Hanford Police officers conducted a welfare check on Peggi Yingling. Her neighbor reported not having seen her for a couple of weeks.

Peggi Yingling was found wrapped in plastic bags and locked in a closet. The autopsy revealed signs of strangulation.

Her daughter, Kelli, who was a resident of the home was arrested on suspicion of homicide.

"The victim is an elder person and we are alleging that this is a case of elder abuse that ended in the death of an elder person," said Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker.

"We reviewed and filed the case against Ms. Yingling for murder and elder abuse, and the elder abuse was one incident in December and then another abuse alleged in conjunction with the murder," she said.

Kelli Yingling had been on felony probation since last year for elder abuse and criminal threats, according to Hacker.

Advice for Victims

"In general, people who are victims of elder abuse either by a caretaker or a relative, somebody who is responsible for them, should not minimize the abuse," said Hacker. "Don't make excuses for the abuse. Reach out to somebody who can help.

"We have a victim witness office here at the DA's office," she continued. "We have advocates that can help you with finding resources, whether those be financial resources or psychological resources, but don't minimize it and don't push it away.

"Don't make excuses for it because this is where abuses can quickly get out of control and people can get hurt.

"Elder abuse is a type of crime which involves somebody who has a duty to take care of them and they violate that duty, and they mistreat the people that they should be caring for, loving and protecting," said Hacker.

Like most counties, Kings County has organizations to help seniors who have been abused with how they can meet their needs without having to rely on their abuser.

"We have services through-out the community," said Hacker. "Kings County Action Organization (KCAO) offers services for seniors. They can point them to transportation options. There are victim restitution funds that can help them financially if they need financial assistance.

"But it means that the victim is going to have to look beyond the abuser to have their needs met," she added.

"We want seniors to say, 'No, I can't have this person in my life because they're not good to me and they hurt me either psychologically or physically or financially."

For assistance or more information, call KCAO at (559) 582-4386.

You can also call the Kings County District Attorney's Office at (559) 582-0326.