Elderly woman found in snow bank, caretaker arrested

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- A West Hartford caretaker was arrested after police found an elderly woman lying in a snowbank and suffering from hypothermia.

The 88-year-old woman, who suffers from dementia, was reported missing from the Plant Senior Housing Complex Thursday.

Police said she was last seen on camera leaving the building around 3 a.m.

Police checked the interior and exterior of the building with negative results. The female was eventually found lying on a snowbank at 784 Farmington Ave. around 9:30 a.m.

The woman suffered from hypothermia and cuts to her hand and foot. She was taken to St. Francis Hospital for treatment.

Salomat Nishonova, 59, was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and interfering with an officer.

Police said Nishonova was the hired caretaker of the woman.

According to police, a review of surveillance cameras showed that Nishonova lied to police about when she last saw the woman and that she waited at least two hours before calling the family of the victim to report her missing.