Three Women Arrested for Torturing Disabled Woman in New Mexico
Three women in New Mexico, including a caretaker, are facing charges for abusing and neglecting a disabled woman, Mary Melero, who later died in April. Melero was found at the U.S./Mexico border with infected sores and open wounds all over her body. The women are accused of drugging and dehydrating her, leading to her death. The caretaker, Angelita Chacon, and her girlfriend, Patricia Hurtado, were contracted to care for Melero and were receiving approximately $5,000 a month under the Developmental Disabilities Waiver Program. The case has prompted calls for reform of the government program.