Caregiver facing abuse charge after missing Cranston woman found in back of parked car | ABC6

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) -- The caregiver of a missing woman from Cranston appeared in court on Monday, facing charges related to her care. Roberta Gerard has been charged with abuse and exploitation of an adult with severe impairment, a felony, following the discovery of Linda DeLomba, a 45-year-old autistic woman who was reported missing.

Police announced that DeLomba was found safe after nearly a week of searching, located huddled in the back of a parked car in a residential neighborhood. Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist expressed relief, stating, “We’re just ecstatic that she was found alive.” The investigation into her disappearance began when Gerard reported DeLomba missing, claiming she lost her at a Burlington Coat Factory, a claim later determined to be false.

As the investigation progressed, police identified inconsistencies in Gerard's accounts. Initially stating that DeLomba was lost in the store, Gerard then claimed that DeLomba exited her car while she was inside her home. Thereafter, a local resident discovered DeLomba lying in the back of a car he was working on, prompting police intervention.

DeLomba was taken to the hospital, where officials confirmed she is doing well, though it remains unclear how long she had been in the vehicle. Given Gerard's conflicting statements, authorities also charged her with obstructing an officer, raising suspicions about her initial accounts of the situation.

Winquist noted that had Gerard provided accurate information, the search might have concluded much sooner. Investigators are currently reviewing surveillance footage in the area to gather further details about the case and the circumstances surrounding DeLomba’s disappearance.