ROYALTON: Arrest puts spotlight on elder abuse

Local News

January 29, 2009

By April Amadon<br><a href="mailto:april.amadon@lockportjournal.com">E-mail April</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Thu Jan 29, 2009, 01:46 AM EST

ROYALTON — A Royalton woman has been charged with attempted murder in the wake of what sheriff’s deputies are calling a case of elder abuse.

Deborah A. Kozody, 49, of 5324 Royalton Center Road, was arrested Tuesday and charged with second-degree attempted murder, accused of trying to suffocate an elderly family member in her care.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Steve Preisch said a concerned family member called 911 about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday to report some injuries to one of Kozody’s relatives, who is in their 70s.

Deputies were not releasing any further information about the victim, including the gender or exact age.

Kozody had reportedly been responsible for taking the victim to appointments and helping them with “day-to-day things,” Preisch said.

When deputies arrived, they found the victim had some minor injuries, including “some minor cuts,” he said.

The injuries did not require hospitalization, the report said.

Kozody was brought in for questioning, and after consulting with the Niagara County District Attorney’s office, deputies decided to charge her with attempted murder.

She was arraigned Tuesday in Royalton Town Court and held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

She will undergo a medical evaluation as part of the investigation, which is continuing.

“My understanding is that this started the previous evening and slowly escalated, with tempers being shortened to the point where (it) goes from more of a verbal-type domestic argument to a physical,” Preisch said.

He said deputies are not releasing much specific information about the incident because of the ongoing investigation.

“We want to ensure our investigation is complete ... (and) give the family time to allow themselves to adjust and understand,” he said.

Silent victims

Elder abuse is a crime that, statistically, often goes unreported.

“We don’t hear about it that often, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen,” Preisch said. “It’s always a difficult thing to look at because of all the intricacies of it.”

At the Dale Association, Senior Counselor Kathy Austin has seen some severe cases of elder abuse.

Taking care of an elderly person can be very stressful, she said, and sometimes caregivers take advantage.

“A lot of this occurs when a caregiver is overwhelmed,” she said, adding anyone caring for an elderly person who feels stress is overtaking them should seek help.

“I would think if you notice you’ve started yelling at somebody and slapping them ... when you see yourself doing that, you’re overwhelmed and you need some help,” she said.

Maureen Wendt, director of marketing and development for the Dale Association, said most elder abuse is perpetrated by family members.

“There’s a lot of issues that prevent the senior person from seeking out help, because they’re afraid their caregiver is going to go away,” Wendt said. “There’s the intimidation. ... It’s usually hidden, because of the shroud of family secrecy.”

Statistics show that for every incident of elder abuse that is reported, as many as 5 to 14 others go unreported. More than 2 million older Americans are victims of elder abuse every year, Wendt said.

She said almost half of those being abused are physically not able to care for themselves.

‘Help Me’

The abuse can be physical, emotional or financial. Austin said she’s seen examples of all three.

She said she recalls the story of a woman with terminal cancer whose son convinced her to move in with him. He had soon cut her off from her friends and other family members, and was using her money for his own needs.

“He really controlled just about everything,” she said.

When Austin finally was able to visit the woman, the woman secretly handed her a small sheet of paper on which she had written a simple message: “Help me.”

Anyone who suspects elder abuse has several avenues to seek help.

The National Center of Elder Abuse has a hot line for New York Residents: 1 (800) 342-3009, option 6.

Locally, Austin said, people can call the Dale Association at 433-1886.

“The important thing is to try to get them to safety,” Austin said. “All they really want is for this to stop. They don’t want their family members to go to jail, they just want this to stop.”

Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.

SIGNS OF ABUSE

Dale Association Senior Counselor Kathy Austin said if a person exhibits several of the following symptoms, they may be a victim of elder abuse:

• Frequent injuries such as cuts, burns, broken bones, bruises or welts

• Deydration or malnutrition

• Depression

• Change in level of alertness

• Changes in financial situation

• Poor hygiene

• Weight loss

• Soiled clothing or bed

• Hesitation to talk openly

• Making contradictory statements or telling implausible stories

• Mood swings, including unexplained anger

For more information, call the Dale Association at 433-1886 or visit the National Center for Elder Abuse at www.ncea.aoa.gov.

Text Only

Local News

WIlson jumps on the 'bin wagon'
Modern Recycling’s upgraded plan has received a warm response some town residents.
The town plans to go from 14-gallon open bins to 65-gallon carts with lids in April. Modern representatives explained the project, put the recycling truck in action and showed of three 32-pound blue and green carts that can withstand 43 mph winds.
The display carts had transparent sides in order to let the residents know the variety of materials that can be recycled.

February 9, 2012
Reform agenda touted
Empire State Development Corporation executive Sam Hoyt visited Lockport on Wednesday to tout Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s state budget and government reform plans.
Changing the way the state does business will bring fiscal relief to counties, cities and towns, eventually, Hoyt suggested.
It’s too bad the reforms won’t kick in before municipalities like the City of Lockport begin confronting fiscal crises, Mayor Michael Tucker said in response.

February 9, 2012 2 Photos
Tucker: 'Best days lie ahead'
The City of Lockport government is smaller than it was 18 months ago but is in a stronger financial place, Mayor Michael W. Tucker said in his annual State of the City address.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Trio of new classes proposed for Newfane
Newfane High School could have three new business courses in the fall, one of which would center on video game design.

February 8, 2012
Municipalities take wait-and-see approach on SPCA funding
The City and Town of Lockport are each withholding payments to the Niagara SPCA, while other Eastern Niagara County towns are taking a wait-and-see approach.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo 2 Stories
Rocky II
Friends of Deputy Craig Beiter of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department plan a benefit on Feb. 26 to raise money to buy and train a new dog for the K-9 Unit.
Beiter’s German shepherd, Deputy Rocky, was killed while on duty in December, and the sheriff’s department is close to getting a replacement.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo 2 Stories
Basket Factory closes
The Basket Factory has gone out of business.
The owners, Julie Thompson Riegle and Dawn Thompson, made the difficult decision last Monday and put the sign on the door Tuesday.

February 6, 2012
No snow is no problem
Unseasonably warm weather didn’t keep Roy-Hart Winterfest from being a fun day for the families who came out to Roy-Hart Elementary School on Saturday.
More than 500 people attended the third annual festivities, which Gasport Lions Club officials said was a big increase from last year. The halls of Roy-Hart Elementary were filled with vendors, programs and movement as excited children rushed from one activity to another.

February 6, 2012
Shovel-ready park has perks
At first glance, the big, orange road sign announcing vacant property on Lockport Road as a “shovel ready certified” building site seems a bit gratuitous.
To companies looking for new places to launch a business, it’s not. The sign in their eyes is a welcome mat, for in three words a community pronounced itself ready, willing and able to make a deal quickly.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
Roy-Hart to play the big stage
A group of local students will be performing this month at Kleinhans Music Hall just before a BPO concert.
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will welcome the Royalton-Hartland High School Mixed Chorus as part of the BPO’s Community Spotlight program on Feb. 19 at Kleinhans in Buffalo. The chorus will perform under the direction of Carolyn Unitas Roos and accompanied by Janice McKinney.

February 3, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

ROYALTON: Arrest puts spotlight on elder abuse

Site Map

Contact Us