Finally make our way to the house !!!

We meet Chief Price leaving the property but when he saw us he turned around and came back, as any officer would. We found that a pad lock had been put on the front door. Chief Price said it might have been placed there by Tyler Goodson and gave Charlie his phone number, which made me wonder who was Tyler and why Chief Price had easy access to his phone number. Tyler said he was on this way to see Mary Grace but, he would turn around and come back. He was back within 5- 10 minutes. He walked up to the porch where we were and said he had just talked with Mama and she did not want anyone in the house until she came home. I said I understand and told him why I was there, to pick up a change of clothes, purse, personal items and medical information. Tyler did not offer any explanation as to who he was or why he was taking charge. I don’t remember a introduction but it would seem likely. Then the confrontation started. There was no screaming, no getting in anyone’s face as portrayed in the podcast. He said he was going to get “Mama” from the hospital and bring her home. I ask who is MAMA??? And he replied Mary Grace. I told him no you are not bringing her home, but he said yes he was. So I asked him, would you bring your own Mother to live in these conditions and he said yes. I stated you are not bringing her back here to live in this mess. He was quick to change the subject as to why we had not been to see Mary Grace, and he was very defensive.
He said Mary Grace was wondering why we had not been to the hospital first to see her–Charlie told him it was not any of his F—— business. He stated that he could not believe that we went right by the hospital and did not stop to see her. I said , it is none of your business but, the route we traveled did not take us though Birmingham where Mary Grace was in the hospital.

He left for the hospital and so did we, without getting into the house or any of Mary Grace’s belongings. We asked Chief Price what he thought we should do and he suggested that we talk to Attorney Boozer Downs. Chief Price stated that police department did not get involved in Domestic disputes. Really, I thought that would be under the title of Trespassing . WHATEVER !?!?!!

When we arrived at the hospital Tyler and his girlfriend Cami were already there. Tyler was sitting in a chair next to Mary Grace, who was also in a chair. I took a seat next to Cami on Mary Grace’s bed. Tyler seemed to be protective of Mary Grace, and he was so close to her you would not be able to get a eyelash between them.

I told Mary Grace that I was so sorry about John Brooks and she said, you have never had kids, how do you know how I feel?? I replied, no I have not had kids but I knew how it hurts to lose a loved one. She was very cold and distant towards me which was unlike her. I asked if she knew who I was and she answered: yes Reta.

I said I was going to the bathroom but went to the nurses’ station to get some answers. They explained to me Tyler had already told Mary Grace I was coming to get her and take her to Florida, which may have been why she was so cold and distant to me. Tyler had told the nurses he was Mary Grace’s adopted son and he was given the code to call in and check on her condition.

Back in the room, we just talked about things in general and Mary Grace was telling us old family stories, this lasted a few hours. Tyler mentioned that he took Mary Grace a biscuit for breakfast every morning, they would sit on the porch and talk. He mentioned his and John’s fishing trip and he even bought John’s lunch. He let me know he had been with John recently to get new eye glasses. I remember seeing them in John’s bedroom a few days later.
Tyler was talking about a little black & white dog named “PIPSQUEAK”, he and Mary Grace argued
over–each claiming ownership, which later turned up missing.

All Tyler could say was “Mama we will be all right”, “Mama we will buy you some new shoes”, “Mama the girls will pick you fresh flowers every day”. I asked Mary Grace if she wanted Tyler to move in with her and take care of her and she said “yes”. I asked Tyler, where is everyone going to sleep and what about your kids? I reminded Mary Grace that Tyler had 3 kids and she said “I don’t want any kids there”. I asked Tyler if he knew what he was asking for, taking care of a elderly person 24/7—he said “not a problem”. Before the conversation got this far, Mary Grace had not mentioned who Tyler was, what Tyler had done for the family, etc. NOTHING. I believe Mary Grace felt that she had no choice at this point, and in all the drama I should have realized that she was not capable of making these decisions.

Charlie and I walked out of the room, I told Charlie well, if Mary Grace wants Tyler to live with her and he wants to take care of her I am not going to fight this. We will stay for the funeral and then go home
NOTE: Mary Grace was wearing the same clothes she had on when she got there Monday night and this was Wednesday. Her clothes were dirty and her shoes were so bad I had to throw them away. When I got to the hospital Thursday she was dressed in a pair of the nurses scrubs and her new shoes, which is what she wore home Friday.

The Social Worker came in before we left and she asked Tyler a lot of questions he could not answer. The name of Mary Grace’s doctor, name of her home health care, and if she was on any medication (he said just vitamins, which in fact she was on multiple prescriptions). Tyler said he had been taking care of Mary Grace for the last two years. After investigating Mary Grace’s case the Social worker left the room.
When I left I gave Tyler my phone number in case he needed anything, and I wished him good luck. Cami told me not to worry they would take good care of Mary Grace. Tyler said his grandmother was going with them to make the funeral arrangements. At this point I was not considering the total seriousness of Mary Grace’s mental state, sure she wanted to go home, which is only natural for an elderly person.

When we reached the hotel everyone called me at one time. That afternoon Cami called me and said they would not release Mary Grace to Tyler, and I needed to sign a form. I told her I could come back now and do that. On the other phone the Social worker called to let me know they would not release Mary Grace to Tyler and asked if I could come to the hospital on Thursday at 11AM for a meeting. I said sure, I will be there. Attorney Downs was returning my call, and others from the community were trying to get in touch with me. We had the hotel phone and both cell phones going at one time. What a mess!!!

During this time the Police Department called to say Tyler and Jake (Tyler’s brother) had two trucks and two trailers going to Mary Grace’s house to load up stuff. By the time we got there the Police had intervened and Tyler was already gone but, we got to meet Jake. He seemed like a nice guy, until he said, “I thought of John as my Father”, I told him, Really??? I said I don’t want to hear that. I thought to myself, it appears that you are stealing from your father before his body was in the ground. (At least that is how it felt to me) I was wondering why they needed two trucks and trailers to get a sack of tools that John said belonged to Tyler. It was then I realized that someone needed to make a stand for Mary Grace’s sake. She was not in a state of mind to take care of herself, and it feel like Tyler was only thinking of himself and not what was best for Mary Grace.

It is then when I asked the police officer what do I need to do to protect Mary Grace’s assets, he suggested I look into to getting temporary guardianship over Mary Grace. I called Faye Gamble (the Town Clerk) to ask her if she could reach Judge Pow to help get a temporary guardianship over Mary Grace.

Ok, Let’s keep talking
Reta