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Caretaker Caught On Video Repeatedly Hitting Disabled Man

Posted: 5:18 pm EST January 10, 2008Updated: 11:29 pm EST January 10, 2008

A caretaker was arrested Thursday for repeatedly punching a disabled man in the face. Port Orange police said, as bad as the case sounds, it is even worse considering there's video of the incident.

The video shows Rabha El Assal Merlino hitting the victim in the head and the face loud enough that you can hear the sounds of the slaps. Merlino then leaves the room and, when she does, the 42-year-old man who has Downs Syndrome can be seen shaking on the couch. In the video, recorded six days ago, Merlino comes back and hits him 15 more times in the head and face.

Merlino was being paid to take care of the victim and a young boy, who was also sitting on the couch. That boy is 17 and has multiple sclerosis. The boy's father suspected something wasn't right, though, so he set up a camera in his house and caught the beating on tape.

Merlino was arrested Thursday at her home in Holly Hill and taken to the Volusia County jail where she was being held on a $3,500 bond, charged with abuse of a disable adult. More charges could be coming.

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