The Fentress County Grand Jury has indicted two caregivers in the August 2024 death of 35-year-old Andrew Willis in Fentress County..
According to a TBI investigation, Willis’ sister, 44-year-old Deborah ‘Mae’ Viola, and his mother, 62-year-old Deborah Deloris Laraway, failed to properly feed and provide care for Andrew Willis, which resulted in his death. The TBI says both women served as Willis’ caregivers. Further investigation revealed that Deborah Viola billed the TennCare CHOICES Program for services she did not provide.
Both Viola and Laraway have been charged with one count of First Degree Murder and one count of Aggravated Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult. Viola was also charged with one count of TennCare Fraud and one count of Computer Offense.
On Friday, November 06, 2026, with the assistance of the Franklin Police Department in Ohio, both women were located and arrested. They are being held in the Warren County (OH) Jail, awaiting extradition to Tennessee.
The charges and allegations referenced are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.