Police say a neighbor’s video showed a 22-year-old pleading to be let out behind an Anson home on Nov. 22.
ABILENE, Texas — A 60-year-old foster mother in the West Texas town of Anson was arrested after police said a disabled 22-year-old woman was found locked in a backyard dog kennel on Nov. 22. Officers responded after a neighbor called 911 and recorded video around 8 p.m. showing the woman trying to free herself from a latched enclosure.
The case has drawn sharp attention to foster-care oversight in Jones County as investigators review how long the woman had been at the residence and who was responsible for daily supervision. Police said the foster mother, identified as Kandice “Kandy” Thompson, faces aggravated kidnapping and injury to a disabled individual, with more counts possible as statements are gathered. Officials said the victim is safe and receiving care. The arrest comes as state agencies coordinate interviews and search records to determine prior contacts at the address and whether other adults there were at risk.
Responding officers said they found the 22-year-old inside a kennel in the backyard after neighbor Justin Anderson reported hearing banging and cries and used his phone to look over a fence. Anderson can be heard on video calling out to the woman and urging her to stay calm while he contacted police. Anson Police Chief Daniel Graziose said officers arrived within minutes and removed the woman from the enclosure, then questioned the homeowner. “For the city of Anson, we take it very serious, and we’re serious about protecting, especially our most vulnerable, citizens,” Graziose said in an interview. Investigators collected the kennel and lock as evidence and took statements from nearby residents.
Authorities said Thompson told neighbors the woman had been locked outside because she was “urinating everywhere” and damaging items in the house. Investigators later confirmed two adult foster children were also present inside the home when officers arrived. Police said the initial arrest occurred the weekend of Nov. 22, followed by release on bond and a re-arrest the following Tuesday on additional aggravated kidnapping counts after new statements were reviewed. Officials have not detailed any injuries beyond exposure and distress and said medical evaluations are ongoing. The woman’s name has not been released because of her disability status.
Records and community members say Thompson and her late husband, a former Anson police chief who died in 2020, fostered more than 50 children over several years, a point now under review as the investigation widens. Former neighbors said the home was a regular site for caseworker visits, and several residents recalled seeing outdoor tarps and a kennel near the fence line this fall. No prior reports of abuse at the property have been publicly confirmed. Child welfare officials are assisting local police, and advocates said the case highlights gaps that can appear when adult foster clients move between providers in rural areas.
Police said prosecutors are evaluating felony counts of aggravated kidnapping and injury to a disabled individual, with bond conditions expected to include no contact with the victim and restrictions on fostering while the case proceeds. Officers said search warrants and additional interviews are underway, and they expect to forward a full case file to the district attorney this month. A court date was not immediately posted Tuesday, but officials said a charging update is likely before the end of the week. Authorities said they are also reviewing electronic messages and call logs around the 8 p.m. response to confirm timelines.
On the block where the rescue occurred, neighbors described a tense few minutes before police arrived. “She kept saying she was scared,” said Marcia Bailey, who lives nearby and stepped outside after hearing shouting. Bailey said the woman appeared cold and shaken but able to answer simple questions. Anderson said he stayed by the fence until officers entered the yard. “You never know who your neighbor is,” he said, adding that he shared video with investigators the same night.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the woman remained in a safe placement and detectives were preparing additional warrants and interviews. Police said the next public update will come after prosecutors accept formal charges or set a hearing date later this week.
Author note: Last updated December 9, 2025.