Juan Jose Ruiz Romero {BSO}
A home health aide has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual battery and lewd molestation after surveillance footage, recorded by the victim’s grandson, allegedly captured him assaulting an 86-year-old woman with dementia.
According to a Sunrise Police Department arrest report, Juan Jose Ruiz Romero, 31, of Miami, who worked for Pembroke Pines-based Lovable Family Home Care, was assigned to provide basic care and companionship for the elderly victim at her home in Sunrise. However, just one day into his employment, he was allegedly caught on surveillance footage committing sexual acts against the defenseless senior woman.
The incident report details that the victim’s grandson had installed surveillance cameras in his grandmother’s home to monitor her well-being while she was under the care of a new home health aide.
On March 5, he checked the footage, witnessed Romero sexually assaulting his grandmother, and immediately contacted Lovable Family Home Care to demand Romero’s removal from the residence and alerted family members to ensure the aide left the premises.
Upon reviewing additional footage from the previous day, the grandson discovered another incident in which Romero allegedly molested and sexually battered his grandmother.
SPD reports state that in the footage, Romero was seen sitting next to the victim in a wheelchair before placing his hands underneath her clothing, touching her genitalia, and kissing her on the mouth. The report also alleges that he exposed himself and forced the woman to engage in a sexual act.
The next day, footage allegedly showed Romero watching pornography on his phone while again groping the victim. He was also seen on the video placing his mouth on her breast.
Following the discovery, Romero returned to the Lovable Family Home Care office in Pembroke Pines, where Pembroke Pines police detained him. He was later transported to the Sunrise Police Department, where he admitted to touching the victim’s genitalia and breasts, as well as forcing her to perform a sexual act.
The arrest record shows that Romera also acknowledged that he was aware of her dementia diagnosis and her inability to consent to sexual acts.
Romero was arrested and transported to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Main Jail, where he remains in custody.
CBS News reports that authorities also placed an immigration hold on Romero.
The incident report shows the victim was unable to recall the assaults when police spoke with her.
Lovable Family Home Care said in a statement obtained by NBC 6 that it fully cooperates with law enforcement.
“We are both saddened and in shock about this very unfortunate situation. As an agency in the community for the past 12 years, we have been working hard and strive to always give our members the best care,” the statement said in part. “We have limited information, and since this is an ongoing investigation, no further details can be provided.”
Sunrise Police are urging anyone with additional information about Romero or other potential victims to come forward as the investigation progresses.
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