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Police: Caregiver charged with sexually assaulting elderly patient

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — A New Smyrna Beach caregiver was arrested Wednesday on charges of sexually assaulting an elderly patient in his care.

Police said they were called to Timberlane Lodge Assisted Living Facility in New Smyrna Beach just after 4:30 p.m., after getting a report of a caretaker assaulting a patient in the home.

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Detectives said a caretaker told them that they saw 51-year-old Billy J. Bunn assaulting an elderly dementia patient whom he was caring for.

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After being caught by the other caretaker, Bunn ran from the home and was later found in Daytona Beach.

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Bunn was arrested and booked into the Volusia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

In a statement, Bunn’s employer VITAS Healthcare, said they were assisting authorities with the investigation.

Read full statement below:

“We take any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously. We are working closely with local authorities’ investigation, while we conduct our own internal review. Our patients’ health and well-being are at the heart of everything we do. Out of respect for the ongoing investigation, we are not able to comment further at this time.”

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Matt Reeser

Matt Reeser, WFTV.com

Matt Reeser joined WFTV in 1998 as a news photographer and has worked for television stations in Kentucky and West Virginia.