A Walker County couple is under arrest on charges they beat and strangled a 76-year-old man.

Michael Earnest, 49, and Alecia Earnest, 55, are charged with first-degree elder abuse and neglect, second-degree financial exploitation of the elderly, domestic violence-strangulation and second-degree theft of property.

The victim, Jimmy Lynn Pearce, is the father of Alecia Earnest and the father-in-law of Michael Earnest, court records show.

Parrish police officers launched their investigation on Jan. 19.

Authorities said they approached Pearce wanting his money. When the victim refused, he was severely beaten and strangled by them.

He was able to escape the home on Park Dunn Road where they all lived and get medical assistance. He is recovering.

Charging documents state the suspects took $2,000, two cell phones and a wallet from the victim.

Both were taken into custody Wednesday at their Parrish home and booked into the Walker County Jail.

Alecia Earnest was also arrested on a 2021 indictment on an assault charge accusing her of deliberately hitting a man with her vehicle, causing serious injury to him including multiple broken bones.

That incident happened on Feb. 8, 2020, near Highway 124 and Highway 69, also in Walker County.