(WJBK) - Two people are accused of selling a woman with special needs as a sex slave in Macomb Township.
Neighbor Tracy Byers says her family lived next to Misty George and Michael Welch inside Westbridge Manor mobile home park for a long time - never believing they could be capable of committing such a heinous act.
According to the prosecutor, instead of helping a 29-year-old mentally and physically disabled woman they forced her to live in a shed, unable to use the bathroom or shower.
Michael and Misty took her support money and then sold the woman for sex.
"It is sad, it is disturbing," Byers said. "I mean even if you are down and out, there is ways to figure it out, not doing that to another human being."
At first investigators say the couple allowed the woman to live with them inside their mobile home and pay rent. But when she could no longer afford it Misty and Michael advertised the woman online. Men would show up and have sex with the victim for money.
It's unclear how the woman finally got away but once she did, she told her family what happened and they contacted authorities.
On Tuesday - investigators with the Macomb Area Computer Enforcement Taskforce arrested the couple, who also has a 3-year-old daughter.
Neighbors say they didn't even know anyone was locked inside the small shed, even neighbors who are just a few feet away.
FOX 2: "Did you ever notice anything odd?"
"No, they were just basically nice, cool people," said Marquita Ferguson. "(I) never saw a third person."
The couple is accused of taking advantage of the vulnerable in the most abusive and cruel way - but neighbors believe there may have been more abuse going on inside this mobile home and fear now for their toddler since both Misty and Michael could be facing several years behind bars.
"We always told Misty to get away from him," Byers said. "And now she is in a bad place."