Caregiver for Long Island woman charged with elder abuse

A Long Island caregiver has been charged with elder abuse after Nassau County police said she was observed on a surveillance camera physically abusing an 83-year-old woman in her care — "striking, grabbing, yanking and punching the victim’s face and body."

Police said Merlyn Fredericks, 36, of Queens,  was charged with second-degree assault, first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent/physically disabled person, and second-degree endangerment of a vulnerable elderly/incompetent person.

The incident caught on surveillance video occurred Feb. 19 at a home in Woodmere, police said.

Police said the victim suffers from a cognitive disorder and said her legal guardian placed the surveillance camera in the home after becoming aware the victim had "a significant amount of bruising on her body."

When questioned about the bruising, police said Fredericks told the guardian the victim had fallen "on multiple occasions."

But, police said, the surveillance video showed otherwise.

In a statement Friday, police said: "While watching the camera footage, a woman was observed physically abusing the victim by striking, grabbing, yanking and punching the victim’s face and body." That woman was identified by police as Fredericks.

Fredericks pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Friday in Nassau District Court, according to court records. Judge Lisa A. LoCurto set bail at $2,500 cash, $5,000 insured bond or $7,000 partially secured surety bond. LoCurto also issued a temporary order of protection.

Fredericks was represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County. 

Police ask anyone who believes they have been — or know — a victim of a similar incident to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”