INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

Caregiver Allegedly Bashed WWII Veteran In The Head With Oxygen Tank

By Robert Jonathan
Published on: 03:49 PST, May 29, 2016

A Florida caregiver is facing an attempted murder charge after police say she allegedly beat a 91-year-old World War II veteran with his portable oxygen tank and allegedly left him to die.

Details about this disturbing incident are now emerging on Memorial Day weekend.

Michael Tristano survived 35 dangerous combat missions during the war as a B-17 “Flying Fortress” waist gunner and ball-turret gunner, but faced a life-threatening situation in his own home.

Approximately 10 hours would elapse before the elderly vet who lived alone would receive medical treatment, during which time he drifted in and out of consciousness and may have been near death.

Earlier this month, the Sarasota-area resident allegedly came under a brutal attack with an aluminum oxygen tank from his longtime caregiver, the Herald Tribune reported on Friday, prompted by a dispute about her pay.

“Police say Tristano’s caregiver, whom he had known for at least a decade, clubbed him in the head multiple times with an aluminum oxygen tank and left him on the floor of his home to die on the night of May 15.”

The suspect, Elena Erickson, 45, called authorities the following morning, telling first responders that she found Tristano “lying in a pool of blood and urine” when she arrived to check on him.

“When police questioned Erickson at the emergency room, she said Tristano might have fallen from the dining room table onto the floor. She later changed the story to ‘some women attacked him because he hurt her in the past,’ police said,” ABC affiliate WWSB reported.

ER doctors at Venice Regional Hospital concluded that the veteran’s injuries were inconsistent with a fall and notified local cops to investigate further into what happened, Fox 13 News detailed.

Tristano explained to investigators earlier this week that they had argued the previous evening and that “Erickson took a portable, aluminum oxygen tank and struck him twice on top of his head while he was sitting at the dining room table… Tristano told detectives that at 10:30 p.m. Erickson hit him on the head two more times, which knocked him to the floor,” WFLA-TV reported.

She allegedly tried to clean up the blood with paper towels, but would not call 911.

Erickson allegedly returned to Tristano’s residence later that morning, at which point she placed the 911 call.

Cops charged the suspect with attempted murder and tampering with evidence. She is currently being held on $300,000 bail at Sarasota County jail.

Tristano received treatments for cuts above his left eye and on his head, as well as bruising to his arms which may have apparently occurred when they struggled with the oxygen tank, but the brave veteran is expected to make a full recovery.

The North Port, Florida, Police Department issued a statement about the suspect’s arrest.

“Mr. Tristano, a World War II veteran, knows what toughness is all about. He was able to survive the night. When he could not be reached by family in the morning they knew something wasn’t right. After emergency care and a brief stay in the hospital, he is recovering and has already returned home.”

About the incident, a PD spokesman declared that “The North Port Police Department considers crimes against children and the elderly to be some of the most severe. The public should know these types of crimes come with increased penalty enhancements. In this particular case, Erickson could receive up to life behind bars.”

A local VFW commander suggested that in WWII, Michael Tristano knew who the enemy was. Some 70 years later, his caretaker emerged as a new (and perhaps unexpected) foe. “I would never count out a 91-year-old WWII veteran,” the VFW official told Tampa Bay-Sarasota 10News WTSP.

[Photo via Shutterstock]

Share this article: Caregiver Allegedly Bashed WWII Veteran In The Head With Oxygen Tank
More from Inquisitr