Submitted reports

Sevierville police are warning persons not to assist an elderly female seen in the area of Wal-Mart and trolley stops.

“She will stay in those areas in order to get money from people,” Police Sgt. Rebecca Cowan said.

She identified the woman as Edna Wilson, age around 80, whom she described as a professional panhandler and con artist.

“She is from Florida and did the same thing down there,” Cowan said. “She has a lot of bags and uses that to draw attention to her. She will then make you feel sorry for her and will convince you to put her up at a hotel. She will not leave when her time is up.”

Cowan said several people have taken Wilson in. She then becomes unhappy and demands a hotel room.

“When they refused, she stayed with them a few days and then would not leave. I got her an apartment six weeks ago and she turned it down. She has gone from church to church with different stories,” Cowan said.

Agencies in the area are no longer helping her, Cowan said.

“Please do not be her next victim,” Cowan said. “She does have money, but gets others to pay her bills. She is living the life that she wants and is getting others to pay for her choices. She has been kicked out of Knoxville and will leave Sevier County as soon as people stop giving her rooms and money.”

Cowan urges persons not to offer Wilson assistance of any kind and urges hotels not to provide her rooms. She already has been banned from using trollies.

For more information call Cowan at 453-5507.