‘Sheer horror’: 3 relatives arrested in death of woman, 27, who had cerebral palsy, mental capacity of 5-year-old

ORLANDO, Fla. — Three family members were arrested Monday evening in connection with the death of a 27-year-old woman with cerebral palsy, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday morning.

Detectives said a Valencia College security guard discovered the body of Gladys Ambert at 8 a.m. on April 7 beneath a pink blanket near a wooded area on Valencia College Lane.

Investigators said a family member reported her missing but knew where she was all along.

They said Ambert was deaf, mute and had the mental capacity of a 5-year-old. Her body was discovered on her 27th birthday.

Detectives said Ambert was abandoned by her parents as a child, and she was raised by her paternal grandmother in New York.

They said when her grandmother died in July, Ambert came to live with her aunt and cousins in Orange County.

Detectives said Ambert was tied up, bound and beaten daily from October until her death.

They said she was forced to urinate and defecate on herself.

“There were tons of new and old marks on her belly, marks on her ankles, marks on her wrist, marks on her arms,” Orange County Detective Joe Covelli said. “These were disgusting crimes committed against a person who could not take care of (herself).”

Officials said Ambert received a monthly Social Security check of $700.

“She endured sheer horror in the last months of her short life,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet.

The victim’s aunt, Nellie Ambert, 55, was arrested on charges of first-degree murder among other charges.

Her children were also arrested: Jasmine Ambert, 32, was charged with abuse and neglect of a disabled person; and Christian Matias,18, was charged with tampering with evidence.

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