Ohio Women Cop Pleas In Theft Of $65K From 81-Year Old Woman's Bank Account; Scam Disguised As Phony Land Sale

In Hamilton, Ohio, the Middletown Journal reports:

• Middletown sisters accused of bilking an elderly woman out of 64,900 in September have entered pleas to felony crimes in Butler County Common Pleas Court. Penny Shepherd, 45, and Christina Hensley, 35, were charged with theft, forgery, securing writing by deception and tampering with records.

• The victim, Orneda Hale, 81, wasn't aware the money was gone until her bank sent her a canceled check made out to Shepherd's husband, Harmon, along with an offer to purchase 7.6 acres of land south of Lexington, Ky., in September.

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• Hale told police she is an elderly woman with no use for land in Kentucky and had not agreed to buy the property. She said Shepherd, who lives next door, sometimes came to her house to help care for her, according to police reports. Frank Schiavone, the sisters' lawyer, said Hale was competent and decided to purchase the property.

For more, see:

• Sisters admit stealing from elderly woman,
• Sisters' attorney: Land sale no scam (Women accused of bilking 81-year-old out of $64,900 in fradulent real estate transaction).

For story update, see Bilking elderly woman gets one sister 7 years in prison. elder financial abuse valedictorian