Elder Woman Critical with Head Wound Abuse Suspected

Updated: Aug 10, 2007 06:18 AM EDTPORTAGE -

Margaret Diamante is in critical condition suffering from a head injury Sunday at a residence on Woodbridge Lane, and medical personnel called police to investigate.

The medical personnel responded to a rescue call in the Woodbridge Hills retirement community. They arrived and found Diamante, 87, semi-conscious and lying on the floor. They discovered she had been struck in the back of the head and had several bruises on her body.

Doctors later found she had bleeding on the brain, and that led detectives to believe her injuries were elder abuse.No one has been arrested, but a suspect has been identified.

Investigators have not revealed how the suspect knows Diamante, but said the person is not a danger to the community.According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, there was a 15 percent increase in elder abuse between 2000 - 2004.

Two of every three victims are women, 42 percent are over 80 years old, and 53 percent of the suspects are adult children or family members.Diamante's neighbors said she didn't live in this residence very long. 24 Hour News 8 was not able to reach any family members.