Caretaker sought in abuse of 94-year-old woman arrested

HOUSTON – Brenda Trahan Floyd, the woman police said was seen on video beating an elderly woman, was arrested Friday morning and charged with injury to an elderly individual.

Floyd was being held at the Houston Police Department's southeast jail, but is being transported downtown. 

Police said they responded to call of suspicion at 2 a.m. in the 7200 block of Fulton Street about a person in a white Lexus, which turned out to be Floyd who was immediately recognized and arrested.

Floyd is expected to appear before a judge around 1 p.m. Friday.

In a video caught by surveillance cameras the elderly woman's family had just installed, Floyd is seen screaming and hitting the woman for feeding a dog. 

Surveillance video shows a 94-year-old woman, sitting in her chair tossing some food to her dog. Suddenly, Floyd broke out in outrage. 

.

"I told you to stop feeding that dog that human food." the caretaker screamed.

That woman screaming and hitting the elderly woman was her caretaker, paid to be there to keep the 94-year-old woman safe and out of harm’s way.

VIDEO: Caretaker accused of abusing elderly woman

In the video, the hits happen over and over, blow after blow to the helpless woman's head.

"Why do you keep feeding that dog human food?" the caretaker asked.

Then the cussing and verbal abuse began. 

Police said they don't know how long the abuse had been going on, but the family installed the cameras, and the very next day, the abuse happened.

"They bought the gift for Christmas. They installed it on New Year’s Eve, and the event happened on New Year’s Day," Memorial Villages Deputy Chief Ray Schultz said.

He said it's disturbing to think this could happen to anyone, especially someone so innocent.

"It is a hard video because we all have parents and grandparents, and it's really hard when you entrust someone to take care of that person for you," Schultz said.

Police said the family hired Floyd through the website, Care.Com, a network of caregivers, from children to seniors, to even housekeeping.

A spokesperson for the website said as soon as they were notified of the allegations, they closed Floyd's account.

Floyd is facing charges of assault or bodily injury to the elderly or disabled. 

Care.com also released a statement:

"This is a very disturbing matter and our thoughts are with the family. The safety of our community is of paramount importance to us, and we are cooperating with local law enforcement in this matter. Since this is the subject of an ongoing investigation, we will not comment further"