New Mexico Attorney General’s Office announced that three women were charged and arrested for allegedly torturing and abusing an autistic woman.
3 women in New Mexico were accused of abusing and torturing an autistic woman. (Photo: True Crime Daily)
Three Women Accused of Torturing and Abusing an Autistic Woman
Three women identified as Angelica Chacon, Patricia Hurtado, and Luz Scott attempted to transport the victim, Mary Melero, to Mexico using a van to seek for medical treatment. However, federal agents noticed that Melero was severely dehydrated and drugged.
In a published article in TRUE CRIME DAILY, Melero suffered from developmental disabilities and she had numerous open wounds, including chronic bedsores with exposed bone, bruises, and lacerations on various parts of her body, and ligature marks consistent with prolonged restraint, according to the federal agents.
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Charges that Three Women are Facing
According to a published report in NBC News, The New Mexico Department of Health contracted with At Home Advocacy allowing caretakers to take care of patients in private residences rather than in an institution. Chacon and Hurtado, two of the defendants, were paid $5,000 each a month to take care of the victim.
However, they neglected to perform their duty. Chacon faces the following charges:
- abuse of a resident resulting in death
- false imprisonment
- conspiracy to commit false imprisonment
- failure to report
Meanwhile, Hurtado will face the following charges:
- neglect of a resident resulting in death
- abuse of a resident resulting in physical harm or great psychological harm
- false imprisonment
- conspiracy to commit false imprisonment
- failure to report
If Chacon will be convicted, he will face 19 years in prison. On the other hand, Hurtado will face a maximum of 20 1/2 years in prison once convicted.
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