Accused Scammers Boosted Real Estate Holdings By Ripping Off $270K+ From Vulnerable Seniors, Say Cops

In two separate stories, police have recently arrested three caretakers for ripping off their vulnerable, elderly clients and applied much of the loot toward advancing their real estate holdings.

• Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania - Woman Charged with Stealing from the Elderly: A former worker at a nursing home in Schuylkill County is accused of stealing from the elderly. Michelle Connors, 37, of Girardville was arraigned on felony theft charges. Prosecutors said Connors became friends with 90-year-old Mary O'Connell and stole more than $160,000 from the elderly woman's bank account. Connors became power of attorney for the woman and had full access to all her money. O'Connell looks like anyone's grandmother but she's alone in the world with no relatives. Police said Connors used that to become O'Connell's friend and then drained the elderly woman's bank account. "I didn't think much about it. I didn't think power of attorney was a big deal," McConnell said about giving Connor power of attorney. "I think a little different about it now. It's a big deal!" Police said Connors bought jewelry, a car, furniture and even paid off her house with the stolen cash.

• Rich Square, North Carolina - Caretakers Face Extortion Charges (A married couple faces charges of extorting $110,000 from an elderly woman in Northampton County, or they threatened to let her die alone): A married couple faces charges of extorting $110,000 from an elderly woman, or they threatened to let her die alone. Rich Square police in Northampton County say Mary King and her husband Charlie were caretakers for 83 year-old Bessie Harper. Police say Mary King would give Harper blank checks of hers and ask her to sign them. If she did not, the King's said they would stop helping her and make sure no one else would help her and that she would die alone. Harper's other caretaker and power of attorney, Annie Helton, noticed a significant amount of money was missing and called police. Police say the Kings were using the money to build a house. Police also say they claim the money was a gift and that they did not get it through threats.