A 74-year-old Hamden woman was charged with physically and sexually abusing four mentally challenged clients in her care.
Victoria Moreau is accused of forcing the clients, three women and one man, to sleep on the floor, according to police. Moreau allegedly hit them with a cane if the tried to get up. She's accused of locking the disabled victims in a closet, giving them extremely hot or cold baths to punish them for failing to use the bathroom properly or eating too slow, police said.
When we knocked on the door, her son Peter answered.
"She's a really good mom. She would never hurt anyone. It's all lies. The whole report is lies," said Moreau.
The victims, who range in age from 31 to 50, suffered injuries including broken bones, to visible scarring and extremely poor hygiene, according to investigators.
Police say Moreau sexually assaulted two of the female victims and the male victim by manipulating their private parts in an "aggressive and torturous manner."
An investigator from the State Department of Developmental Services contacted police about the alleged abuse. Moreau was contracted by the state to care for the disabled patients.
Local
Moreau barricaded herself and her two grandchildren in a back room of her house at 205 Ridge Road when officers showed up to arrest her Wednesday, police said. Police say Moreau charged the officers while removing her clothes before they finally arrested her. They say she then screamed and made animal noises in the holding cell the rest of the night.
Neighbors say they are stunned to hear of the abuse.
"I don't believe it. It's not because I know otherwise, but it didn't seem like there was anything going on that was inappropriate when I walked by the house," said Diane Kraus, of Hamden.
Moreau is charged with four counts of Cruelty to Persons, fourth-degree Sexual Assault, Disorderly Conduct, Assault, Interfering with a Police Officer and Failure to Submit to Booking Procedures. She is being held on $115,000 bond.
Wendy Moreau, Victoria Moreau's daughter was also arrested. She was charged with Risk of Injury to a Minor, Disorderly conduct, Interfering with a Police Officer, and Failure to Submit to Booking Procedures.
