Arrest made in elder abuse case; victim not injured

EAST GOSHEN >> A Delaware woman whose alleged assault on an elderly woman at a township senior living community was posted on social media has been arrested by investigators from the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department (WEGO), according to a news release.

Shyaire Selon Romeo was charged with simple assault and harassment following an investigation by WEGO police after they were alerted to the assault by law enforcement officials in Delaware about a Facebook video that showed the woman being struck with what appeared to be a pillow.

Romeo, 19, of Wilmington, was taken into custody Tuesday and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Thomas Tartaglio of East Goshen, who set bail for her at $1,500 unsecured, after which she was released. Her preliminary hearing was scheduled for Sept. 11.

According to a criminal complaint filed against Romeo by WEGO Detective Russell Weaverling, Romeo can be seen on a video shouting insults at the woman and cursing at her as she sits on a couch. The woman, whose name was not included in the complaint, then appears to hold up her hands as if afraid of being hit with something.

Weaverling said the video then shows the woman being hit with what appears to be a pillow multiple times as the person recording to video tells her to, “Say you’re sorry.” The woman, who pleads with the other person to stop, did not appear to be injured.

Weaverling said that when interview by police, the elderly woman could remember only having a pillow thrown at her, but no other details She suffers from memory issues, the complaint states.

When Romeo was interviewed by detectives, she allegedly acknowledged taking the video and striking the woman with a pillow. She said she recorded the video in May while she was working as a caretaker for the woman at the Wellington of Hershey’s Mill facility in East Goshen.

According to a press release issued Thursday, on July 19, WEGO received a report from law enforcement in Delaware of a video that was posted on Facebook of an elderly female being verbally and physically abused by a health care provider.

During the investigation in Delaware, by the state Department of Justice and Newport police, it was determined that the video was taken at Wellington. Members of the department immediately determined that the victim was no longer in danger and that the person who committed the act was no longer working at the facility.

Over the past two weeks detectives conducted a detailed investigation that included the examination of videos, interviews of witnesses and consulting with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, according to the news release.

Throughout the investigation detectives were in contact with the family of the victim who no longer resides at the East Goshen senior living facility, the release stated.

A spokesman for Wellington, issued a statement after being contacted by the Daily Local News.

“Like all of you, we were extremely shocked and saddened by the content of the video being circulated on social media showing a former resident of our community,” said Carol Arnold. “We take the safety of our residents and their families very seriously.

“The perpetrator in the video is a private caregiver hired by the victim’s family who at no time has worked for our community” she said. “The (police) sought our assistance to identify the victim, and we wish the police success in ensuring that justice is served.”