Days after a Pearl Harbor survivor was discovered living in squalor, the victim of neglect allegedly at the hands of a paid care taker, the veteran's daughter explains she thought her father was “in good hands.“
The daughter of Arnold Bauer provides some answers to the many questions San Diegans have been asking since the 93-year old man was discovered living in a home surrounded by rodent droppings, trash, rotten food and inoperable bathrooms.
The veteran’s 62-year old caretaker, Milagros Angeles was arrested and charged with elder abuse.
In a written statement, the daughter said she and Bauer’s other relatives were shocked to hear about the care her father had been receiving.
“I was in touch with the caregiver usually about once a month and everything seemed fine with my father. In fact she said his mental state was improving,” the daughter wrote.
“The caregiver discussed with me that she was preparing nutritious meals to make sure he stayed healthy,” she said.
According to details revealed last week by friends of Bauer, investigators and prosecutors, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Just a disaster,” said Sgt. Mark Varnau, San Diego Sheriff's Department Elder Abuse Unit when describing conditions of the home on Euclid Avenue in unincorporated El Cajon when deputies served a welfare check on Jan. 25.
“This is not caregiving. To keep another human being in such conditions is inhumane,” said Varnau. “These aren’t the conditions you'd want to keep an animal in.”
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The bank noticed Bauer had not been in since October of last year. After several calls to his home, they became concerned and called Adult Protective Services which alerted the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
Bauer was sent to the V.A. Medical Center where it was discovered that he has prostate cancer and a severe urinary tract infection. He also suffers from dementia.
In her written statement, the daughter thanked the bank and all who rescued her father from the home.
“We are very grateful to know dad is in good hands with the VA medical center right now,” the daughter wrote. “We will be working with the social worker to make sure he gets good care after discharge from the medical center."
Angeles was wearing five layers of clothing when deputies arrested her, according to prosecutors. They say bundles of $100 bills were hidden inside each layer of clothing and she had a hidden money belt.
Angeles is accused of cashing a significant number of checks against Bauer's account. The prosecutor said there's evidence that the suspect sent money to banks in the Philippines.
At her arraignment, she was ordered to have no contact with Bauer and to stay 100 yards away.
