News

Woman arrested, charged in connection to Worcester nursing home case

WORCESTER, Mass. — A 25-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection to a robbery and an assault at a Worcester nursing home, according to a release issued by city police.

Elanna Williams, 25, was charged with unarmed robbery, vandalism of a building, assault and battery on a person 60 or older, assault and battery, and trespassing. She is accused of stealing a purse and assaulting employees at the Christopher House nursing home last week.

“It’s actually a felony to commit an assault and battery if the victim is over 60, which in this case I think at least two of the victims were,” said Worcester Police Lt. Sean Murtha.

PREVIOUS: VIDEO: Woman accused of stealing purse, assaulting employees at Worcester nursing home

Three women were apparently injured during Williams’ alleged attempted theft, police said. One of the women has a possible concussion while another broke a finger and a third had issues with her back. They were unable to detain Williams, who fled in a maroon SUV before police arrived.

Video of Williams’ alleged scuffle with members of the nursing home was captured on security tapes, which police shared with Boston 25 News.

“Anytime there’s a serious crime like this that happens, we want to get the person as quickly as possible,” Lt. Murtha said. “So it’s a testament to the hard work of everyone here, the investigators, the whole department was out looking for her.”

A woman who asked not to be identified told Boston 25 News that she recognized the suspect in the surveillance video right away.

She said Williams was one of her friends in middle school -- and she couldn’t believe what she did. She notified Worcester Police about who this suspect was.

“I was just in utter shock, I was sad and I was sad for the people she hurt,” the woman said.

Murtha is glad Williams was apprehended.

“I think it’s a shocking crime, and it’s people who don’t ordinarily see this kind of thing, just workers in a nursing home trying to go about their business and someone goes in and robs them like this during the day, very brazen, so obviously it shocks people we want to get it wrapped up as quickly as possible,” Murtha said.

Her childhood friend hopes Williams will change her ways.

“I hope that she learns her lesson and that she realizes the severity of her behavior and that she works to fix it,” she said.

Williams will be arraigned in Worcester District Court on Tuesday.