Elderly Couple
Posted: Thursday, February 13, 2014 5:35 pm | Updated: 6:02 pm, Thu Feb 13, 2014.
- Posted on Feb 13, 2014
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Kevin Pizzarello and his wife Theresa have been in a two-year battle to rescue her parents from a family member they say is not providing proper care. "My father-in-law had escaped from the house and was pounding on the door begging for help from the neighbor," Kevin Pizzarello says. He also highlights an example of self-mutilation by his father-in-law to further support the couple's claims of neglect. "He plucked with tweezers his individual hairs one at a time, on his face, about 1/3 to 2/3rds of his head, on the front on his arms ..." Kevin Pizzarello says.
Since noticing and reporting the evidence of unsatisfactory care, the Pizzarellos, along with Theresa's brother James, have not been allowed to see their parents. They've been waging a custody battle with the accused family member -- another of Theresa's brothers -- but the legal fight has been unsuccessful even though the Pizzarellos have documents drafted by their parents dictating wishes that run counter to and pre-date the current, court-sanctioned arrangement.
"[My father] wanted my brother James to be the appointed guardian and executor of everything," Theresa Pizzarello says, but the courts have not overturned their original custodial decision despite her and James' efforts.
The situation is all to common, according to area attorney John Torraco.
"Sometimes people use these things as a shield and sometimes they use them as a sword," Torraco says. "Unfortunately, with the population here in Florida, you do see its too common."
In the meantime, Theresa is worried that the health of her 76-year-old father and 81-year-old mother will continue to fade.
"Anyone can do this to you -- seize your asset and take your life over -- and if the judge ignores it, who can you go to?" Theresa Pizzarello asks. "It might happen to your mom and dad. It might happen to [Kevin's] mother," she says through tears. "And that's why we're fighting the fight."
Since noticing and reporting the evidence of unsatisfactory care, the Pizzarellos, along with Theresa's brother James, have not been allowed to see their parents. They've been waging a custody battle with the accused family member -- another of Theresa's brothers -- but the legal fight has been unsuccessful even though the Pizzarellos have documents drafted by their parents dictating wishes that run counter to and pre-date the current, court-sanctioned arrangement.
"[My father] wanted my brother James to be the appointed guardian and executor of everything," Theresa Pizzarello says, but the courts have not overturned their original custodial decision despite her and James' efforts.
The situation is all to common, according to area attorney John Torraco.
"Sometimes people use these things as a shield and sometimes they use them as a sword," Torraco says. "Unfortunately, with the population here in Florida, you do see its too common."
"Anyone can do this to you -- seize your asset and take your life over -- and if the judge ignores it, who can you go to?" Theresa Pizzarello asks. "It might happen to your mom and dad. It might happen to [Kevin's] mother," she says through tears. "And that's why we're fighting the fight."
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