Missing 86-year-old Saugus woman found

SAUGUS – An 86-year-old Saugus resident missing for four days was found Tuesday night in Laconia, N.H., police said.Rosalyn Azarva was located at a mental health clinic and local police officers arrested her son Jeffrey Azarva on an outstanding warrant, said Saugus police Det. Lt. Ronald Giorgetti.Azarva, of 55 Saville St., was first reported missing on Oct. 20 when Assistant Police Chief Leonard Campanello said she was last seen with her son in his white Chevy Astro van.Laconia Police Sgt. Richard Simmons said police responded to Genesis Behavioral Health Clinic after a nurse there grew suspicious when Jeffrey brought his mother there Tuesday.?(Jeffrey) had brought his mother there for an evaluation,” said Simmons. “The worker there said she knew that something was wrong because he didn?t have an explanation why he would bring her to Laconia when they?re from Saugus. The mother was not in very good condition so (the worker) called us to go there and evaluate what was going on.?I don?t know if she was malnourished, but she didn?t look very healthy or well-cared for,” added Simmons.Simmons said he contacted Saugus Police to see if they knew anything about them and that?s when he learned Jeffrey Azarva had an outstanding warrant for elder abuse and his mother had been reported missing.Simmons said Rosalyn Azarva was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated, but said he wasn?t sure of her condition as of Tuesday night. Simmons said her son didn?t give any explanation as to why he was in Laconia.Campanello said police have responded to Azarva?s address on Saville Street in the past, but declined to say why.According to Campanello, Greater Lynn Senior Services sought and received a protective order from a probate court for Rosalyn Azarva to undergo an evaluation at a hospital for health reasons when it was discovered she was missing.?There was a protective order issued from the state for this person, and when it went to be served, we found out the son had taken her out of the home she was staying in,” said Campanello.Campanello said he didn?t know what exactly her diagnosis was, but that she had ongoing health issues and had regular visits from health care providers.Michelle Camello has lived across the street from Roslyn Azarva for more than 50 years and described Azarva?s son as a “nice young man,” but acknowledged he could have a short temper at times and said he and his mother had some personal problems “probably, a little bit.”?I?ve known Jeff since he was born,” said Camello. “He?s short-tempered sometimes. He was always pleasant. But sometimes when I would go to visit he was a little noisier than he should?ve been.”Hellen Reidy, who has known Azarva for 47 years, said she didn?t know of any problems between the mother and son.?He took excellent care of her,” said Reidy, who lives across the street.Vicki McMahon spent this past summer looking after Azarva when she stayed next door with her own son.She said Rosalyn Azarva suffered several serious strokes and said Jeffrey was worried that his mother would be put in hospice care.?Both of her sons were very much involved with her and her care,” said McMahon. “They were very caring. (Jeffrey) was concerned that everyone wanted to bring in hospice. I noticed she could communicate with her eyes. She knew they wanted to take her into hospice care and (Jeff) said she?s not ready for hospice care. I know he was terribly confused and his brother advised him from time to time.”McMahon said Azarva spent all of his time caring for his mother.?I?ve never seen a son take care of a mother like this in my whole life,” said McMahon. “His attention was to her.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter @MattTempesta.