JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — His name is Oliver Pickett, but his mom says most people call him Tadpole.
For decades he's run Pickett Brothers Body Shop in the Englewood neighborhood.
But his mother says the 54-year-old's once solid reputation has recently changed.
“He don't even look like himself,” says Kathleen Bryant, his mother.
On Tuesday Action News told you that Charles Mooney gave Pickett more than $1,100 to fix his pickup truck last week.
But Pickett told us he has no idea where that truck is now.
“I loaned the car to somebody. I made a mistake ... because I'm dumb,” Pickett said.
Wednesday, Pickett told us he used the truck to transport and protect dozens of women who live and work along Philips Highway, an area known for prostitution.
Action News asked him what he is getting in return from the women.
Pickett said, “Nothing. I do not have sex with them. I do not expect money from them—nothing, I just need respect from them, and I got it.”
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“He's a helper, I'm telling you, but he's in the wrong – he's like his daddy. He goes to tramps,” Bryant said. But Pickett's mother says those girls are taking advantage of her son.
Like her, she says, he suffers from a hereditary mental illness that is getting worse without medication.
She's believes he had good intentions and that he plans to return that truck.
“He's not doing this as a robbery or stealing or you know what I mean?” Bryant said. “Oh, no he was helping them whores.”
On Wednesday, Action News was there when Debbie Mooney filed another report against Pickett with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Action News asked Bryant is she thinks the couple should have filed the police report.
“It depends on what they know. If they think he stole it? Yeah. Wouldn't you?” Bryant said.
While Bryant says she understands the couple’s frustration, she hopes her son won't go to jail and instead will find help.
“If he knew Tadpole, he would know that's not Tadpole. But I would not stop him from putting out a warrant, no, cause he's got the truck. I can't cover him for that,” Bryant said.
WJAX
