Former ‘Liberal Sherpa’ of Fox News charged with kidnapping, financially exploiting elderly mother

Areu, who dubbed herself as the "Liberal Sherpa" for frequently appearing as the opposition on Fox's conservative programs such as Tucker Carlson Tonight, was booked into a Miami jail on Friday on several felony charges including kidnapping, elderly exploitation and organized scheme to defraud, reported the Miami Herald.

According to local news, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said, "Every incident of alleged elder exploitation or abuse touches our heart and never fails to shock us."

"It seems particularly harder to understand when the alleged perpetrator of the exploitation is a daughter, or a son or another blood relative," she added.

According to a press release from the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, Areu allegedly used a revoked Power of Attorney to twice involuntarily place her then-88-year-old mother in assisted living and memory care facilities in an attempt to gain control over her finances.

In the first instance, the liberal commentator "tricked her mother into believing she was going on an ice cream outing with her granddaughters," but instead locked into a care facility. She was later able to make a call for help and get out.

In the second incident, Areu and another co-conspirator allegedly "dragged the victim from her home," and brought her to another facility against her will. In both instances, Department of Children and Families (DCF) adult wellbeing investigators got the elderly woman released from the facilities.

An investigation found that Areu's mother lost over $224,000 from her daughter's alleged control of her financial accounts.

Areu allegedly turned her mom's home over to herself via a quit claim deed, made multiple withdrawals from the 88-year-old's bank account, as well as opened credit cards in her name, according to the Herald.

"Every incident of alleged elder exploitation or abuse touches our heart & never fails to shock us. It seems particularly harder to understand when the alleged perpetrator of the exploitation is a daughter, or son, or another blood relative, as in this case," said State Attorney Kathy Rundle.

Areu had reportedly been ducking authorities since June, when a judge signed a warrant for her arrest. According to the press release, Areu was believed to have been evading arrest in Mexico for a time.