New Jersey woman charged for barricading mother-in-law in basement
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Authorities have charged a northern New Jersey woman with elderly neglect after they found her mother-in-law living in the basement with the door barricaded by a shovel.
West New York police made the discovery last week while responding to a call about a home overrun with cats.
Capt. Michael Zitt says police found the basement door blocked from the outside, the shovel placed through its handles.
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Zitt says 89-year-old Delphine Linden appeared disoriented and couldn't answer basic questions, such as her name.
Police say daughter-in-law Piedad Linden returned and told officers she had blocked the door to keep it from banging open in the wind.
City officials determined the basement was uninhabitable.
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It's not clear if the daughter-in-law has an attorney. Phone numbers listed for her were disconnected.