NORTH PORT, Fla. - Michael Tristano of North Port flew 35 combat missions over Nazi-occupied Europe in WWII. He survived raid after raid. However, his most harrowing brush with death came only a few days ago when his caregiver, 45-year-old Elana Erickson, allegedly took an oxygen tank to his head.
"Here you've got a gentleman who fought in WWII and he gets treated this way, it's not right. It's not right at all," said AMVETS Post 312 Commander Ron Larrivee.
Tristano and Erickson allegedly got into a fight over money. According to the North Port Police Department, Erickson took a small oxygen tank and hit Tristano over the head four times. He was then left on the floor in a pool of blood from 10:30 at night until 8 a.m. the next day.
"He was able to survive the night and thankfully had some family who suspected something wasn't right when he didn't answer the phone," said North Port PIO Josh Taylor.
Erickson called 911 and reported that Tristano had fallen the night before. It wasn't until doctors at Venice Regional Hospital found his wounds to be inconsistent with a fall that anyone took notice.
While recovering, Tristano was able to give an account of that nigh, telling authorities Erickson hit him several times and then tried to clean up the blood that had gone all over the floor and table. He's back home now surrounded by family.
"It's unbelievable. It's outrageous. The members here are up in arms about it," said Larrivee.
At the local AMVETS Post, this incident serves as a serious warning.
"If you do have a problem, don't keep it to yourself. See someone at one of the post or organizations so we can stop this kind of atrocity," said Larrivee.
Erickson is charged with attempted murder and tampering with evidence. Both are considered felonies. She's being held tonight on $300,000 bond.
