88-year-old dementia patient is repeatedly sexually assaulted by driver, MA cops say

A Ring camera captured a man’s repeated sexual assaults of an 88-year-old woman with dementia, Massachusetts authorities say.

Now, the man who regularly drove the victim to her elder care facility is charged with eight counts of indecent assault and battery on a disabled person, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said in an Aug. 28 news release.

The investigation began when a relative noticed the 88-year-old woman crying, prosecutors said. The relative contacted police in Chelsea, who obtained additional Ring camera footage.

The footage showed Edwin Lam, 66, sexually assault the woman eight times from May 20 to July 11, the district attorney said. Lam, who drove for Joyful Living Center Adult Day Heath in Charleston, was seen in the footage groping the woman and placing her hand on his crotch, according to the news release.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said the victim was unable to communicate what had been happening to her, making the relative’s discovery more important.

“We live in an era of widespread commercial and domestic video surveillance, which when used judiciously and appropriately can be a tremendous asset to investigators,” Hayden said. “But even the best surveillance must be noticed and then brought to the attention of diligent investigators. Fortunately, both of those factors happened here.”

Lam was jailed on a $7,500 bond, authorities said. He was ordered to stay away from the victim’s home and not engage in ride-share employment, according to the district attorney.

Chelsea is a northeast suburb of Boston.