Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Cops Pinch Trio For Allegedly Draining 81-Year Old, Dementia-Stricken Neighbor's Bank & Credit Card Accounts, Causing Loss Of Victim's Home To Foreclosure

In Land O' Lakes, Florida, WTVT-TV Channel 13 reports:
  • Deputies say three Pasco County residents took advantage of an elderly neighbor with Alzheimer's, emptying her bank account and even sending her home into foreclosure.

    Bonnie Mae Pierce, 62, Renee Sigel, 51, and John Hyatt, 51, are now behind bars. Detectives say the trio spent months stealing money from the 81-year-old victim's bank and credit card accounts to pay for everything from a lawn tractor, to clothing, costumes, alcoholic beverages, gasoline, and more.

    They also stopped the woman's bank, credit card, and mortgage payments, causing her home to be foreclosed upon.

    The victim had no idea; she suffers from dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

    Neighbor Lamar Brady said he and his son, Josh tried to help the widow who used to live across the street as much as they could.

    "We came over, cleaned the house, made sure she had dinner every night, made sure she had medicine," Brady said. "They were starving the poor woman to death. She was going to different neighbors' houses, begging for food.... She trusted them, 100-percent."

    Deputies said a victim's advocate was working with the woman to help put her life back together. Meanwhile, the suspects were arrested and booked into the Land O' Lakes Detention Center on $20,000 bond.