California Siblings Face Criminal Charges for Neglecting Disabled Sister

According to the MercuryNews.com, a Redwood City judge has determined that a brother and sister will stand trial for abusing and neglecting their mentally disabled sister.

Bertha Lozano, 46, and Jesus Ramirez, 53, forced their 58-year-old mentally disabled sister to live in an 8-by-12 foot metal shed with only a mattress and portable toilet.

San Mateo County prosecutors said police found the woman last month, shivering while wearing nothing but a thin nightgown, after investigating an unrelated call at Lozano and Ramirez's home.

The victim told police that she receives $700 a month in disability checks from Social Security Income, but investigators found no bank account in her name and no evidence that she ever received any money. Police later determined that Ramirez and Lozano had been stealing their sister's checks.

Lozano and Ramirez are both being charged with neglect of a disabled person and embezzlement. They are each being held on $250,000 bail.

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