Caretaker Accused Of Abusing 91-Year-Old Woman
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBS 2/WCBS 880/1010 WINS) -- A home health care worker has been charged with aggravated assault and endangering an elderly person after video caught her slapping and shoving a 91-year-old woman she took care of for 11 years.
The disturbing video shows 52-year-old Carmen Pereira -- a trusted family care giver -- violently throwing Catalina Obaldo on the bed inside her Jersey City home
LISTEN:1010 WINS' Glen Schuck Reports
LISTEN:WCBS 880's Levon Putney Reports
The footage also shows Pereira allegedly smacking Obaldo several times and then shoving a tube in her mouth, feeding her and then slapping her in the face.
"I was furious. I do not know what...heartbreaking it is to see your own mother abused by a person whom you trusted for many years," the victim's daughter Bernadine Samin said.
Obaldo -- who suffers from Alzheimer's and heart disease -- didn't suffer serious injuries, but at one point in the video, a helpless look could be seen in her eyes.
Police Chief Thomas Comey said the victim's daughters found a computer camera they used to video conference with their mom which revealed several days of abuse, WCBS 880's Levon Putney reported.
1010 WINS reporter Glen Schuck reported Obaldo's daughters showed Pereira the video and demanded answers.
"I want you to explain to me what you have done to my mom," the victim's other daughter Cresencia Obaldo said recalling a conversation she had with Pereira.
Police said they have more than a month's worth of abuse on tape.
CBS 2 tried to get comment from Pereira, but no one answered the door at her home Tuesday. A neighbor said the 52-year-old -- who is out on bail -- is receiving medical care after she fell.
Pereira worked for Loving Care Agency and a spokesperson from the agency spoke to CBS 2's Christine Sloan Tuesday.
"Loving Care has actually been in touch with the family and they're working with the family through this difficult time," the spokesman said.
The sisters said they shared their story so that other families could learn from their heartache.
