A former caregiver serving time for elder abuse was in court Wednesday facing new accusations that she kept a disabled woman captive in her apartment for at least a decade as she pocketed her monthly Social Security benefits.
Prosecutors say 59-year-old Josefina was found beaten and starved in Shirley Montano’s City Heights Apartment. Court documents say that Montano held Josefina captive for 11 years, but it’s possible she could have been in captivity for as many as 23 years.
Prosecutors say Josefina suffered an unspecified injury when she was 36 years old and became disabled. Montano was hired as her caregiver and eventually took away her phone and walker and canceled her doctor appointments.
At one point, Josefina only weighed 81 pounds, according to the Associated Press.
She also refused to let Josefina’s friends and family visit and drained her bank account. Montano was able to fake Josefina’s identity and collect $910 in benefits every month.
Montano pleaded not guilty to charges including kidnapping for extortion and elder abuse.
The prosecutor said Montano’s abuse of Josefina was very similar to the way she abused another woman who was once in her care, Lorraine Vega. Vega, now 80, came to San Diego from Arizona to testify against Montano.
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Recorded phone calls played in court revealed how Montano impersonated Vega while on the phone with her bank in an effort to withdraw money from her account. Purchase records showed she bought tires, purses and other items with her money.
Montano was convicted of abusing Vega and is currently serving a one-year sentence. She could face life in prison if she’s convicted on the new charges.
Prosecutors also said Montano is facing a murder charge in the death of a third former patient who died while in her care. That case is still being investigated.
