Fall River Police Investigate Elderly Abuse Case

The Fall River Police Department investigated a case of elder abuse, which produced 5 arrests. WARNING: Some of the descriptions in this statement are graphic.

The Fall River Police Department has arrested five family members of an 80-year-old female, who was the victim of Elder Abuse. All five family members are charged with Permitting Injury to an Elder/Disabled Person and Permitting Serious Injury to Elder/Disabled. All family members resided with the victim at 161 Lonsdale St. Fall River, Mass. Those charged are:

1. 51-year-old Duarte M. Cabral – Son-in-law of the victim.
2. 49-year old Karen Cabral – Daughter of the victim.
3. 28-year-old Keith J. Cabral – Grandson of the victim.
4. 24-year-old Scott Cabral – Grandson of the victim.
5. 21-year-old Corey Cabral – Grandson of the victim.

On Saturday the 24th of July 2010 family members called a medical rescue unit to their residence because the victim was incoherent, a condition that was first noticed several days earlier but no action was taken. The victim was taken to St. Anne's Hospital to be examined and found to have several Decubitus Ulcers (bed sores) that became infected.

St. Anne's Hospital notified Bristol Elder Services who in-turn notified police. Det. Lawrence Ferreira of the Fall River Police Department Major Crimes Division, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Eric Benson and Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne responded to St. Anne's Hospital to speak with medical staff and to view the victim. They found the victim unconscious and intubated. Investigators were advised that the sores were so severe that bone and tendons were visible. The victim was also being treated for an eye infection and a fungal infection in her navel area.

Det. Ferreira learned that the victim's daughter and one grandson were the primary care takers for the last fours years. Other family members also took care of the victim. The victim had been sleeping in a recliner or on the couch and would spend all day sitting in the recliner, sometimes in her own urine and feces.

Family members were interviewed at the police department and placed under arrest and charged. A search warrant was issued for the apartment where several articles of evidence were seized.