Abuse victim escapes, Holyoke Personal Care Assistant charged

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) –  A Personal Care Assistant, Jo Ann Engleston, of Holyoke, is facing charges after police say she abused a woman with disabilities who was in her care.

Holyoke Police Lt. Jim Albert told 22News that on Friday, the 66-year-old victim escaped Engleston (who was her live-in personal care assistant) and walked nearly a mile to the Loomis House on Jarvis Avenue. Police say the victim walks with a prosthetic leg and a walker, and that the journey took her more than two hours.

Loomis House staff called police, and took care of the woman until an ambulance could arrive. She was taken to Holyoke Medical Center with bruises all over her face and arms. Albert says the woman reported being abused by Engleston for more than five years, saying that she was sometimes “struck by wet towels.”

Engleston, 51, is charged with assault and battery on an elderly or disabled person, domestic assault and battery on a family or household member, and threat to commit a crime.

Holyoke police and Greater Springfield Senior Services are continuing to look into the case.

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Abuse victim escapes, Holyoke Personal Care Assistant charged