Female Caregiver Arrested After Hidden Camera Captures Abuse of Elderly Woman
Photo: Rima Abikaram
Police have arrested a female caregiver who is suspected of elder abuse after video footage displayed her striking a 91-year-old woman over 150 times.
The suspect, 50-year-old Rima Abikaram of Fullerton, was a friend of the victim’s family. She, along with another individual, had been hired in 2015 to provide round the clock care for the elderly woman, who was confined to a medical bed in her home in Costa Mesa.
The second caregiver noticed that the woman had sustained several visible injuries and shared her concerns with the family. The family then installed a hidden camera in the elderly woman’s home.
“Ultimately, the hidden camera revealed Abikaram abusing and striking the victim,” according to the release.
Abikaram was fired on August 18, 2020, and the family reported the elder abuse to the Costa Mesa Police Department that same day. Officers took a report and viewed video footage, and “it was found that over a 4-day period, Abikaram struck the victim over 150 times,” according to the release. “Medical reports showed that [the victim]’s injuries included swelling to her face, a black eye, and a laceration to her arm.”
Costa Mesa police arrested Abikaram in her home and booked into jail on September 1st. She was posted the bail bond and was released the following day.
