Caregiver pleads not guilty to imprisoning woman for 23 years, stealing her benefits
Josefina’s family didn’t know she was alive.
Neighbors in City Heights didn’t know she existed.
Even houseguests didn’t suspect Shirley Montano of holding a woman prisoner for 23 years in a small room, where Josefina was beaten, starved and intimidated, according to county prosecutors.
Authorities say Montano did it to pocket Josefina’s $910 Social Security monthly benefits.
Montano, 52, pleaded not guilty in San Diego Superior Court Wednesday to six counts of kidnapping for extortion, kidnapping, willful cruelty to an elder causing great bodily injury, theft from an elder, false imprisonment and perjury on an application for federal housing aid.
Montano could get life in prison with parole if convicted of the first charge alone.
Josefina’s family didn’t know she was alive.
Neighbors in City Heights didn’t know she existed.
Even houseguests didn’t suspect Shirley Montano of holding a woman prisoner for 23 years in a small room, where Josefina was beaten, starved and intimidated, according to county prosecutors.
Authorities say Montano did it to pocket Josefina’s $910 Social Security monthly benefits.
Montano, 52, pleaded not guilty in San Diego Superior Court Wednesday to six counts of kidnapping for extortion, kidnapping, willful cruelty to an elder causing great bodily injury, theft from an elder, false imprisonment and perjury on an application for federal housing aid.
Montano could get life in prison with parole if convicted of the first charge alone.
