Police search for more victims after couple's arrest

Image 1 of 5

A Floyd County husband and wife are behind bars for allegedly swindling elderly and other victims out of tens of thousands of dollars.

The Floyd County Police Department said Jackie and Patricia Porter, of Lindale, promised customers to build barns and other structures, but never delivered.

"It was a $2,500 deposit to secure materials to begin work," said Brandon Rowloff, general manager at Prestige Builders.

Rowloff said Jackie Porter, his wife Patricia, and their business, Porterbuilt, never completed an April job on a $7,500 kennel for his boss's hunting dogs.

Rowloff told said a customer through their tree trimming company was also a victim.

"He was going to have a barn built also and in talking we found out that we both hadn't heard from this guy, weeks had gone by, months had gone by," said Rowloff.

Investigator Amy Nails with the Floyd County Police Department said, so far, victims have lost thousands of dollars.

"We're currently up to approximately $55,000 that's been taken from the citizens here in Floyd County," Investigator Nails said going on to explain investigators know of at least eleven victims.

Investigator Amy Nails said her investigation revealed some of the victims are elderly.

"One of my victims is 77 years old. I would say right now there's probably three more that meet the criteria of exploitation of an elder," said Investigator Nails.

The Porters both in their mid-sixties are being held at the Floyd County Jail on multiple charges of theft by deception and at least one count of exploitation of an elder.

"They spent their bottom dollar, their hard-earned dollars. That's what's really disheartening in situations like this, the elderly," said Rowloff.

Investigators said the Porters have warrants pending on similar charges in Cherokee County, Alabama and that they operated in Bremen in Haralson County.

She said Porter's son Payton Porter, who is also facing charges similar to his parents, is unaccounted for.

The Floyd County Police Department is asking anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Payton Porter or who feels they were victimized by the Porters to give them a call.