A case of elder abuse is surfacing in southwest Iowa. An Atlantic woman is accused of taking a picture of a nude nursing home resident earlier this month. Thirty-five-year-old Amanda Sedina, who works at the Salem Lutheran Nursing Home in Elk Horn, faces a serious misdemeanor charge of invasion of privacy-nudity.

Shelby County Chief Deputy Sheriff Rod McMurphy says Sedina allegedly took an inappropriate picture of the bathing 78-year-old female resident. McMurphy says another employee of the nursing home received a text message from Sedina with a picture of the woman attached to it.

The employee notified Salem administrators, who called the sheriff’s office. McMurphy could not comment on Sedina’s motive for allegedly taking the picture. He says the case is extremely unusual for Shelby County.

He says it’s not something they run across very often, adding, “It’s beyond despicable.” The incident was reported to authorities on March 22nd. Sedina was arrested March 23rd and was released this Monday on $1,000 bond. A date for her preliminary hearing has not yet been set.

By Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic