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Sep 1, 2007 4:14 pm US/Eastern
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Healthcare Worker Accused Of Abuse Flees U.S.
by Suzanne Collins
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
A healthcare worker charged with beating an elderly man in her care doesn't show up for trial.
Suzanne Collins reports she has fled the country.
The chances of Anastasia Oluoch being brought to justice are slim.
The State's Attorney's Office would have to work through international police to find her, then pay quite a bit to fly her back from Africa, where it's believed she fled.
There is a home video surveillance tape of healthcare worker Oluoch, angry with the 90-year-old man she was caring for, after he soiled himself.
She points in his face, slaps him, and punches him in the side. The victim is John Taylor and his daughter is furious that Oluoch, who failed to show up for trial on abuse and assault charges, has now fled the United States.
"I'm very angry at the way the system handled this whole thing," said daughter Jaki Taylor.
Oluoch was arrested in May. The victim's daughter called police when she viewed the home security video she'd installed.
Bail was set at $5,000 and while Oluoch did show up for her arraignment, she didn't appear on the day of trial.
"I felt the bail should have been a lot higher than $5,000 -- first and foremost. And secondly, they knew she was a flight risk, she is not from the United States, they should have gotten the passport -- bottom line," said Taylor.
Oluoch is from Kenya and the warrant apprehension task force confirms for
Eyewitness News they've learned she did depart from Dulles Airport July 31st on a flight headed to Africa.
The State's Attorney's Office says when Oluoch was arrested and appeared to have her bail set, they did not have a prosecutor there to argue her bail be higher or for her to remain in jail.
They say they're really only able to do that in felony cases like shootings, murders, and sex crimes.
Eyewitness News called the judge who did the bail review to ask why bail wasn't higher, and why Oluoch wasn't considered a flight risk. We didn't get a call back.
There is only one prosecutor assigned to bail hearings and he only handles violent cases. The State's Attorney's adds it doesn't have authority to seize defendant's passports.
"Its pretty much an insult and a slap in my fathers face that they allowed this lady just to leave when we had her," said Taylor.
Jaki Taylor has sent letters to elected officials asking they look into this case and determine why it was so easy for Oluochi to evade justice.
John Taylor's health went downhill after the beatings. He is no longer living at home, but he is on life support at Levindale Nursing home.
A John H. Taylor fund has been set up to help with medical bills at any Bank of America. Checks can be made out to:
John H. Taylor Fund
PO Box 7545
Baltimore, MD 21207
For more information, you can email thetaylormade1@yahoo.com.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)