CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — Investigators have uncovered new surveillance footage that paints a clearer picture of exactly how a missing autistic woman wound up inside a stranger's parked car last week, according to police. Linda DaLomba, 45, was first reported missing by her caregiver last Wednesd ay. RELATED: Caretaker charged with lying to police after woman went missing The caregiver initially told investigators DaLomba vanished while she was using the bathroom at the Burlington Coat Factory, but surveillance footage revealed neither of them were ever at the store. Detectives became suspicious after the caregiver continued to provide them with conflicting statements regarding DaLomba's whereabouts. The caregiver eventually admitted to leaving DaLomba in the car while she visited a friend's home, but the new surveillance footage confirmed that wasn't true either. Cranston Police Col. Michael Winquist said DaLomba was spotted in that surveillance footage walking down Pond Street before getting into the unlocked car. DaLomba was found curled up in the backseat of that car five days later by a man who went outside to jumpstart the vehicle for a family friend. "I opened the back door and put the jump box down, then I looked back and noticed there was someone sleeping, laying down, in the back of the vehicle," recalled Savong Sam a mechanic for the Cranston Fire Department. Sam said he first thought there was a child hiding in the backseat, but then he remembered hearing about DaLomba's disappearance on the news and decided to call the police. "At first I thought, 'There's no way it's that missing lady,'" Sam said. "But it ended up actually being her." SEE ALSO: Cranston honors man who found missing autistic woman Winquist said the caretaker left DaLomba unattended the backseat of her car for more than an hour while she got her nails done. Investigators believe DaLomba got out of her caregiver's car in the nail salon parking lot and walked roughly 475 feet to the vehicle on Pond Street, where she remained until she was found Sunday afternoon. The caregiver, identified as 43-year-old Roberta Gerard, left the nail salon and returned briefly to her North Clarendon Street home before driving around the neighborhood. Winquist said Gerard reported DaLomba missing from the Burlington Coat Factory nearly three hours after she actually disappeared. Gerard has since been arrested and charged with abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult with severe impairments, as well as falsely reporting a crime and obstruction of an officer in the execution of duty. She faced a judge Monday and was released on $5,000 surety bail. Winquist said it does not appear that anyone else was involved in DaLomba's disappearance. He added that DaLomba has been hospitalized since Sunday, but her health is improving. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media:                     Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW ...read more read less