Las Vegas caretaker accused of dumping elderly aunt’s body on the side of the road

LAS VEGAS (TCD) -- A 28-year-old female caregiver faces murder charges after allegedly dumping her elderly aunt on the side of the road.

According to KLAS-TV, on Dec. 17, 2021, Rosamaria Moreno reportedly committed the crime, and a passerby found the elderly woman dead shortly after.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, on Dec. 18, officers from the North Las Vegas Police Department responded to the area of Water Avenue and Stocker Street, where they found the woman, later identified as 79-year-old Maura Nava Flores, lying next to the road. She was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene.

Flores’ body reportedly showed no visible injuries or signs of struggle. The coroner’s office believes hypothermia played a role in Flores’ death, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by KLAS, Moreno was Flores’ caretaker. She was reportedly upset with the state for not providing compensation. The Nevada Aging and Disability agency allegedly told police they didn’t compensate Moreno because she wouldn’t allow them into the home to perform a welfare check on Flores.

Moreno reportedly admitted to police that she hadn’t seen her aunt on Dec. 17 and didn’t notice she was gone until Dec. 21. However, KLAS reports Moreno did not report Flores missing. Moreno still reportedly logged in caretaking hours for the days her aunt was gone. Flores allegedly suffered from Alzheimer’s, dementia, and schizophrenia.

According to KLAS, police showed Moreno video evidence of her car in the area where Flores was dumped. Moreno allegedly told authorities her aunt was having incontinence issues, and she drove to the Salvation Army, but the shelter looked full, so she dumped Flores on the side of the road. Moreno told authorities that her aunt was alive when she dropped her off, KLAS reports.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, on Feb. 24, Moreno was arrested and charged with murder.

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