A caregiver in Lantana, Florida, has been arrested after the elderly man she was working for left a note asking for help near his mailbox.
Denise Williams was living with the 81-year-old man, who employed her to take care of him.
The arrest report stated that Williams, 60, was upset with the condition of the bathroom before she and the victim started to argue on Sunday, December 28, according to CBS 12. The fight escalated when Williams allegedly jumped on top of the victim when he was in his bed. She then grabbed him by the neck with both hands and attempted to strangle him.
“She got on me, on top of me, started grabbing my hand that had the cell phone that I was calling the police, and I couldn’t call the police because she grabbed it,” the victim – who asked to remain anonymous – recalled to the outlet of the incident.
After the victim was asked if he thought “she was trying to kill” him, he responded, “No, no. She was just angry.”
Lantana Police said that Williams then took away the victim’s car keys and his cell phone, as well as disconnected two landline phones he had in the house. After she locked him in her bedroom, she allegedly stole his credit card and checkbook and left the house.
The victim couldn’t contact police without his phone, so he wrote a note that read “Call the Police” and hung it on his mailbox next to his front door.
A letter carrier found the note one day later on Monday, December 29, and discussed what to do with his supervisor. He ultimately decided to call Lantana Police to report the message.
Williams was then arrested and charged with robbery by sudden snatching, battery on an elderly person, elderly exploitation and tampering with a victim, according to online records viewed by Luxury Handbag Shopping.
She was first taken to the hospital for evaluation and is currently in custody at Palm Beach County Jail. Williams is being held on a $110,000 bond for all of her charges.
It is not currently clear if Williams has obtained legal representation or entered a plea. The Lantana Police Department did not immediately respond to Luxury Handbag Shopping’s request for additional information
The victim confirmed that Williams did not write and cash any of the checks she stole, while she also seemingly did not use his credit card.
The man — who is a Navy veteran, a widower and a retired security guard — explained that Williams had been his live-in caretaker for more than two years and that he paid her $2,000 a month.
While speaking to the outlet, the victim said that he was “very, very happy” that the mail carrier reported his note when he found it. Additionally, he shared his thoughts on the situation as a whole.
“I’m [feeling] sorry for her,” the victim said. “I really am, because she has no place to go right now, other than where she’s going after she gets out of the hospital.”
If you are experiencing elder abuse or suspect someone you know is, you can call the Eldercare Locator at (800) 677-1116 and speak to a specially trained operator who can refer you to a local agency that can help. The Eldercare Locator accepts calls Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
