An elderly Marine veteran from New York was allegedly held captive in a motel room for four years by a man who stole his benefits and Social Security checks.

Police arrested 35-year-old Perry Coniglio on Tuesday night in connection with Mr. McClellan’s captivity. The 86-year-old veteran, who suffers from dementia, was allegedly served meager portions of food and regularly forced back into the motel room with a stick.

Chief Jack Quinn of Highland Police Department told a local ABC affiliate on Wednesday that illegal drugs were found in Mr. Coniglio’s home.

“We believe he is the recipient of a tremendous amount of money on a monthly basis,” said Chief Jack Quinn, Highland Police Department, the station reported.

“The guy who was arrested who lived next door, he was giving him just one bowl of cereal a day, he would stick him back in the room with a stick, wasn’t bathing him, the old guy would just be walking around here naked, just terrible,” a neighbor added.

Mr. Coniglio was charged with unlawful imprisonment, grand larceny, criminal possession of a weapon, endangering an incompetent person, menacing and unlawful possession of marijuana. He is being held in Orange County Jail on $15,000 cash bail or $25,000 bond.

Authorities told the station that when they asked the Marine veteran how long he believed he had been captive, he said “about four days” instead of four years.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for July 25. Mr. Coniglio’s first court appearance is planned for July 26.

“I watched this on the news last night, and it was very upsetting to see all the neighbors talking about how abuse was going on for years but no one called the authorities,” an ABC 7 reader said in the station’s comments section.

“I’m confused you saw this and said NOTHING! How the heck did he now get found out? [shake my head]! This is nuts! What kind of people live in this motel?” another added.

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