HIALEAH, Fla. – A 35-year-old man was arrested Tuesday, months after his girlfriend’s elderly mother accused him of verbally abusing her and stealing from her.
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According to an arrest report from the Hialeah Police Department, officers responded to the victim’s home in the 400 block of East 45th Street on Oct. 27, 2024, after the victim reported that her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend, Francisco Alejandro Fernandez, are verbally abusive toward her, constantly insulting her and telling her that they can do anything they want with her, her house and her property because “she’s an old lady.”
Police said Fernandez told the victim that because she is 80 years old, her daughter owns everything of hers and, “that by default,” he owns everything too.
According to the report, on a daily basis, both Fernandez and his girlfriend steal and eat the food items purchased by the victim, who has limited resources, causing her to run out of food for herself.
Police said the victim informed officers that the incidents have caused her so much distress that she isolates herself by locking herself inside her bedroom.
She also said she is in fear of both of them and believes they are waiting for her to die so they can stay with her house and property.
Police noted in the arrest report that the victim was breathing fast and was crying relentlessly throughout their conversation with her and appeared to be “legitimately in fear.”
According to the report, the victim claimed that earlier that day Fernandez had forced himself into her bedroom and looked through her drawers.
The victim asked him to leave and he shouted at her, saying he can do whatever he wants because he owns the house, authorities said.
Police said the victim then called 911.
According to the report, Fernandez was arrested on Feb. 4 on a trespassing after a warning charge after he showed up to the victim’s home.
He was arrested again on Tuesday on a charge of abuse on an elderly/disabled person with prejudice.
As of Wednesday afternoon, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center where his bond was listed as “to be set.”
The victim’s daughter was not named in the report and it’s unclear whether she will also face charges.