According to Florida law enforcement, a woman was recently arrested for attacking her elderly wheelchair-bound sister.
Vikki Beth Cappola, 64, is charged with one count each of abuse of an elderly adult, domestic battery by strangulation, and simple battery, according to Palm Beach County court documents.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night at the elder sister’s home, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case.
While heavily redacted under Florida’s victim privacy protection law, the court document contains the basic allegations that led to the younger sister’s arrest by sheriff’s deputies on May 21.
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According to the affidavit, law enforcement arrived at the residence after receiving a 911 call about a domestic disturbance.
When deputies arrived, the older sister alleged that Cappola physically assaulted her after an argument escalated.
During the altercation, the victim claimed her younger sister struck her in the head with her cell phone, according to authorities.
According to the affidavit, immediately after the alleged cellphone attack, the defendant “allegedly pushed her” older sister “in her wheelchair into a dresser.”
While the victim was in her wheelchair, the defendant allegedly “used her hands to choke her, applying pressure to her neck and restricting her ability to breathe,” according to the charging document.
“[The victim] reported experiencing difficulty breathing during the attack,” the officer said.
According to authorities, one of the older sister’s neighbors came forward as a witness after hearing her cry for help.
So, the neighbor stated, she entered the house and discovered the younger sister “with her arms wrapped around [the older sister’s] neck.”
The neighbor told investigators that she intervened in the attack by shielding the elderly woman with her body. According to the affidavit, this led to the defendant pulling his hair. However, the neighbor refused to press charges.
Some of the claims are unclear due to the document’s redactions.
“After the alleged assault [redacted] forced the [redacted] leave the residence, effectively expelling her from the premises then locked the door,” according to the lawsuit. “While interviewing [redacted], she expressed concern for her safety and asked for help from [the Department of Children and Families]. I found visible scratches on [redacted]’s left shoulder but no visible marks on her neck.
Authorities claim that after being Mirandized, Cappola admitted to some of the allegations against her while denying others.
Cappola was held in the Palm Beach County Jail on a $11,000 bond. She is represented by a public defender.
The defendant made her first court appearance this week and is scheduled to return on June 20 and again on July 17.