May 25, 2016 2 min read

A West Bethlehem Township woman was arrested Tuesday by state police for allegedly assaulting her 92-year-old mother and holding her against her will over a six-month period.

Barbara Ann Girdish, 64, of 84 Grable Road, is charged with aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, simple assault and harassment for the alleged abuse of Helen Girdish. The mother was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment of possible brain bleeding.

State police said the Area Agency on Aging received an anonymous report Monday that an elderly woman was being abused at the residence. A representative of the agency went to the home Tuesday but was denied entrance by Barbara Girdish. State police were then contacted for assistance.

Troopers responded to the home with the agency representative were then allowed into the home. Helen Girdish was found in a first-floor bedroom, partially clothed. Police said she had bruises, cuts and scrapes covering most of her body. Helen Girdish told police that her daughter was holding her against her will and had assaulted her.

She was taken to Washington Hospital for treatment of what police called major injuries to both legs. While at the hospital, Helen Girdish told investigators that her daughter had physically abused her for the last six months. She said she was beaten almost daily and feared for her life. A preliminary report by hospital staff indicated the elderly woman suffered the possible brain injury and she was transferred to a Pittsburgh hospital. Information on her condition was not available Wednesday afternoon.

Barbara Ann Girdish was arraigned before District Judge Curtis Thompson and placed in Washington County Jail on $25,000 bond. She is scheduled for a June 6 preliminary hearing before Thompson.