A Marion County man and woman who described themselves as caregivers are facing felony charges after deputies say an elderly victim was threatened, taunted, and left unprotected inside her own home.
According to arrest affidavits from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Jeremiah Cruz-Sosa, 20, and Kayla Hannah, 19, were taken into custody April 26 following an investigation into an incident that occurred April 23 at a residence in Marion County.
Deputies were dispatched after a neighbor reported that the victim, identified as a woman over the age of 65, had come to her home saying family members were “being nasty” to her.
When a deputy arrived, the victim said her granddaughter, Hannah, and Hannah’s boyfriend, Cruz-Sosa, had been yelling at her and preventing her from leaving the residence.
The victim, who uses a walker and suffers from multiple medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic swelling, told deputies Cruz-Sosa got in her face, repeatedly poked her head and body, and threatened to kill her and her dog.
A witness in the home provided video of the incident, which deputies reviewed on scene.
According to the report, the video shows Cruz-Sosa leaning into the victim’s face, poking her multiple times while taunting her, and at one point stating, “I have every right to knock [you] out right now.” The report states he later told the victim he could kill her “right here, right now,” before continuing to poke her arm while saying “boop.”
The victim is heard crying and yelling during the encounter.
Deputies noted the home had multiple unrelated adults living there.
Cruz-Sosa told deputies he acted after the victim struck him, admitting he poked her but claiming it was in response. He also described ongoing tension in the home, including disputes over cigarettes and noise.
Investigators determined there was probable cause to charge Cruz-Sosa with abuse of an elderly or disabled adult without great harm, a felony, along with misdemeanor assault on a person 65 or older. He was booked into the Marion County Jail without bond.
Hannah, who identified herself as both the victim’s granddaughter and caregiver, was also arrested. Deputies said she acknowledged witnessing Cruz-Sosa’s behavior but did not intervene.
According to the affidavit, Hannah told deputies she “didn’t think it was a problem” when Cruz-Sosa poked and yelled at the victim and said she did not know why she failed to stop him from making threats.
Deputies determined there was probable cause to charge Hannah with neglect of an elderly or disabled adult without great harm, a felony, for failing to protect the victim despite her role as a caregiver.
She was also transported to the Marion County Jail without bond.
