Cranston Police Find Missing Woman, Caregiver Charged with Abuse

Linda DaLomba, a 45-year-old woman with autism, was found alive in the back of a parked SUV in Cranston, Rhode Island, five days after being reported missing. Her caregiver, Roberta Gerard, has been arrested and charged with abuse and providing false information to police, as she initially misled authorities about DaLomba's whereabouts. The police investigation revealed that Gerard's accounts of DaLomba's disappearance were inconsistent and raised concerns about the care she received during the time she was missing. Savong Sam, a local mechanic, discovered DaLomba while attempting to jump-start the vehicle, after which she was taken to the hospital for evaluation and was reported to be in relatively good health. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding DaLomba's time in the SUV and whether others may have been involved. Police emphasized the importance of the community's support in the search efforts for DaLomba.