NYS senators call for veterans home probe after Turn To Tara hidden-camera report
A caregiver was arrested after being caught on camera allegedly abusing Gulf War veteran Albert O’Toole.
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Officials are continuing to speak out about the alleged abuse of a veteran, following News 12’s exclusive Turn To Tara investigation into alleged elder abuse at a veterans home in Montrose.
A caregiver was arrested after being caught on camera allegedly abusing Gulf War veteran Albert O’Toole.
O’Toole’s wife, Angela Sangro, spoke exclusively with News 12 senior reporter Tara Rosenblum, hoping the case leads to better protections for other residents.
In a statement after the story aired, New York State Sen. Shelley Mayer said she was unsettled by the case.
“I am deeply disturbed by the appalling documented abuse of Albert O’Toole, a resident of Montrose State Veterans Home,” Mayer said. “No person should ever have to endure such cruelty - especially the men and women who served our nation with honor.”
She added that veterans deserve far better care.
“Our veterans deserve to spend their later years in peace, with dignity, and with the confidence that they will be treated with compassion and the highest standard of care,” Mayer said. “Anything less is a profound betrayal.”
Mayer also called for swift action.
“I join my colleagues in calling on Attorney General Letitia James to immediately investigate the Montrose Veterans Home… to determine whether this abuse reflects a broader pattern of mistreatment,” she said.
On Friday, State Sen. Pete Harckham also called for an immediate investigation by both the attorney general and the Department of Veterans Services.
"The documented abuse of Albert O’Toole is deeply troubling, and the possibility that such mistreatment could occur without oversight or accountability is unacceptable," said Harckham, "We owe our veterans dignity, respect, and quality care in their later years. Swift action must be taken to address these failures and hold those responsible accountable."
Sangro said her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury during the war and later developed Alzheimer’s disease.
His condition worsened after he was transferred to the state-run facility.
Concerned, she secretly installed a hidden camera in his room. The footage appears to show an aide taking food out of his hands, picking him up by his neck and forcefully putting him into a chair and pulling him before punching him.
The aide, identified as Matthew Cox, was arrested and fired. However, he still works for the VA in a non-patient role pending the outcome of the case.
After getting limited answers about his employment status, Sangro chose to Turn to Tara.
The investigation also uncovered dozens of complaints, citations and fines at the facility - raising broader concerns about care and oversight, as Sangro continues to advocate for her husband and other veterans.
