We, the undersigned citizens, advocates, caregivers, family members, mandated reporters, and concerned members of the public, are demanding answers regarding the circumstances surrounding Ellen White's condition prior to her death on May 13, 2025, and whether complaints reportedly made on her behalf were properly received, documented, investigated, and acted upon.

For months, the public has been presented with conflicting information.

Recent media coverage has focused heavily on allegations involving Ellen White's daughter, Gwendolyn E. White. At the same time, publicly available photographs, documents, social media posts, and statements have raised additional questions that remain unanswered.

According to public statements made before her incarceration, Gwendolyn White asserted that concerns regarding her mother's condition were reported to Adult Protective Services, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the Governor's Office, and other officials prior to Ellen White's death.

Additionally, a member of the public publicly stated that she communicated with the Governor's Office and other state agencies regarding Ellen White's condition in 2025 and was informed that certain agencies were unaware of the situation until it was brought directly to their attention.

These statements appear to raise important questions that deserve clarification.

If complaints were made, where are the records?

If complaints were received, what actions were taken?

Were investigations opened?

Were the concerns documented?

Were all applicable procedures followed?

If agencies were notified, how were those reports handled?

What conclusions, if any, were reached?

The public deserves answers.

This petition is not intended to determine guilt or innocence.

This petition is not intended to interfere with any pending criminal proceeding.

This petition seeks transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the systems designed to protect vulnerable adults.

Many members of the public first became aware of Ellen White's condition after photographs began circulating publicly. Those photographs have generated significant concern and prompted questions about whether all appropriate agencies were notified and whether appropriate actions were taken in response.

As citizens, advocates, caregivers, family members, mandated reporters, and concerned members of the public, we rely on public agencies to properly evaluate allegations involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect of vulnerable adults.

When concerns are reported, the public expects those concerns to be reviewed professionally, thoroughly, and in accordance with established laws and procedures.

Although Gwendolyn E. White is currently incarcerated and may not be in a position to publicly address the many questions surrounding her mother's death, the public is not silenced.

The public remains free to ask questions.

The public remains free to review the facts.

The public remains free to demand accountability.

As additional information becomes available, citizens and advocates will continue seeking transparency, accountability, and answers regarding this matter.

To further those efforts, Shaunesi Y. DeBerry-Melvin, Founder of Women Wear Pants Too, Inc., a North Carolina-based organization, and a global advocate for transparency, accountability, and vulnerable populations, has submitted a formal request for review to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Wake County Adult Protective Services, and Granville County Adult Protective Services.

That letter, together with supporting exhibits, requests an independent review of complaints reportedly made concerning Ellen White and raises broader concerns regarding vulnerable-adult protections, agency accountability, and public confidence in the systems designed to protect vulnerable adults.

We support that request.

Accordingly, we respectfully call upon:

• Governor Josh Stein

• Attorney General Jeff Jackson

• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

• North Carolina Medical Board

• Wake County Adult Protective Services

• Granville County Adult Protective Services

• WRAL-TV and other media organizations

to:

• Review the handling of complaints concerning Ellen White;

• Determine whether all applicable procedures were followed;

• Identify whether policy, training, reporting, or oversight improvements are needed;

• Provide the public with as much information as permitted by law regarding any review process;

• Continue investigating and reporting all relevant facts concerning complaints, investigations, agency responses, and the timeline leading up to Ellen White's death; and

• Strengthen protections for vulnerable adults throughout North Carolina.

This petition seeks answers.

This petition seeks transparency.

This petition seeks accountability.

Ms. White may be incarcerated, but the public remains free to ask questions, review the facts, and demand accountability from the institutions charged with protecting vulnerable adults.

The public deserves answers.

The vulnerable deserve protection.

And families deserve confidence that their concerns will be heard.

SIGN THIS PETITION IF YOU BELIEVE THE PUBLIC DESERVES ANSWERS ABOUT ELLEN WHITE.