Exploitation of disabled adult case leads to arrest

A West End man was jailed under a $10,000 secured bond after being arrested and charged with felony exploitation of a  disabled  adult and felony obtaining property by false pretenses.

Forty-three-year-old Christopher Puckett was arrested following the issuance of warrants in the case.

The Aberdeen Police Department said in a news release that on Aug.18, officers responded to the Woodforest National Bank in reference to the possible exploitation of a disabled adult.

“Upon arrival, officers obtained information from bank staff that they knew a client to be disabled and only make transactions with his guardian,” said the police department. “Staff advised that on this date, the client came in with an unknown adult male that he advised he did not know, and withdrew $2000 for him.”

Investigators contacted the man and his guardian on Aug. 21.

“Through additional investigation, it was determined that the victim was easily manipulated due to documented medical conditions,” said the department. “Puckett was identified as the suspect, and it was confirmed that he exploited the victim and obtained money from him under fraudulent circumstances.”

Five days later, warrants were obtained on Puckett for felony exploitation of a disabled adult and felony obtaining property by false pretenses.

On Sept. 1, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office located Puckett and took him into custody. 

Photo: Christopher Puckett is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Contributed photo. 

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Exploitation of disabled adult case leads to arrest910

Chatham County woman facing nearly 70 felonies after being accused of financially exploiting elderly uncle: Sheriff

by: Matthew Sockol

SILER CITY, N.C. (WNCN) — A Chatham County woman is facing nearly 70 felonies after being accused of financially exploiting an elderly family member, the sheriff’s office said Thursday.

According to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, an investigation into 37-year-old Maggi Elizabeth Brady of Siler City of Siler City began last October after the Chatham County Department of Social Services reported concerns of her misusing her elderly uncle’s money.

Deputies said Brady has power of attorney to maintain her uncle’s finances.

The department’s Adult Protective Services investigation determined the victim was unaware of his finances, including his banks, investment accounts, and transactions, according to the sheriff’s office. 

After reviewing bank records provided by the department, according to the sheriff’s office, deputies identified several transactions involving accounts connected to Brady. They served search warrants on multiple businesses and financial institutions, revealing the victim’s cards and accounts were used to make payments to Brady’s accounts.

Deputies said they charged Brady with 32 counts of felony exploitation of an elder in a position of trust, 33 counts of felony identity theft, and one count of felony financial card fraud. In total, she is facing 66 felonies.

As of Thursday afternoon, the charges have not been served, but deputies said Brady is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court on Monday. 

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Chatham County woman facing nearly 70 felonies after being accused of financially exploiting elderly uncle: Sheriff 

Guardianship rights may have fueled woman's actions for allegedly shooting 2 lawyers outside courthouse

By Shirley Henderson 

Disappointment over losing guardianship rights over her mother may have fueled the actions of a North Carolina woman who has been accused of the nonfatal shooting of two lawyers outside a courthouse following a hearing for a civil case.

Gwendolyn White, 57, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was recently arrested and charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Mary Harris and Jeffrey Whitley—two Fox Rothschild lawyers representing the Rolesville Police Department in North Carolina.

White “became belligerent in court” and was reportedly ordered to leave the courtroom of the Wake County Courthouse in Raleigh, North Carolina. Witnesses said allegedly she went to her car to get a gun and returned to the courthouse where both lawyers were exiting the building. They are expected to recover from their wounds, according to coverage by Law.com and WRAL.

During White’s court appearance following the shooting, she expressed concern about her mother, Elleen White, not receiving proper care. In 2024, Wake County Health and Human Services sought to find a third-party guardian for Elleen White, noting that regarding Gwendolyn White, there were “concerns about caretaker neglect and the fitness of the caretaker to continue serving in that role,” according to court documents.

Posts on social media and filings in court show that White believed that the Rolesville Police Department was involved in “a racist conspiracy” to kill her and her mother, who died last year at age 90 in a nursing home, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. 

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Guardianship rights may have fueled woman's actions for allegedly shooting 2 lawyers outside courthouse

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Woman accused of shooting two attorneys failed in caring for elderly mother, court documents show

Woman accused of shooting two attorneys failed in caring for elderly mother, court documents show

Newly uncovered court documents reveal that prior to her arrest for shooting two lawyers outside a courthouse, Gwendolyn White was stripped of her mother's guardianship following multiple county investigations into caretaker neglect. 

By Shaun Gallagher, WRAL reporter  

Shortly before being arrested for allegedly shooting two lawyers outside of the courthouse, Gwendolyn White expressed the reason she continued her legal fight during a hearing over the release of body camera footage.

“My job right here is to get justice for her, whether you like me or not,” White can be heard during an audio recording of that hearing.

The court case had nothing to do with White’s mother. It was part of an ongoing legal battle with Rolesville Police Department over body camera footage from an incident near White’s home in 2021.

But White’s mother, Elleen, is a heavy focus of her online footprint. Specifically, her concerns that her mother’s death was caused by improper care.

But newly discovered court documents show the County believed Gwendolyn White was the one failing her mother.

Wake County Health and Human Services (WCHHS) filed a case in 2024 to find a third-party guardian for Elleen White. It cites a specific incident the month before.

Gwendolyn White dropped her mother off at the hospital in October 2024 for an issue. Nine days later, it was resolved and she was ready to be discharged but says White, “was unwilling to allow [Elleen] to come home and unwilling to work with the hospital on other discharge options.” The document continues saying, “Gwendolyn White was either unwilling or unable to agree to placement options." 

Gwendolyn White’s interactions with other facilities prevented other locations from taking in Elleen according to the court documents.

“No skilled nursing facility is currently willing to accept [Elleen] as a resident due to Gwen's documented behavior and disruption in [Elleen's] care," the document reads.

This was the fourth time WCHHS was contacted in a year and a half over, “concerns about caretaker neglect and the fitness of the caretaker to continue serving in that role,” according to court documents.

Gwendolyn White has a well-documented social media presence, claiming her mother’s death was due to poor care, including an online fundraiser calling for justice for elder abuse and neglect. It’s a fundraiser that had raised roughly $440 before last week’s shooting. It’s ballooned to over $6,000 as of Friday afternoon.

The fundraiser reads, “The Daughter has never neglected her mother period in 39 years and wouldn’t.”

However, the county court's decision indicates it disagrees with White’s sentiment.

It assigned a third-party guardian to Elleen White’s care, saying, “Elleen White is at imminent risk of harm given her daughter’s refusal to permit mother’s discharge or participate in good faith in planning said discharge.”

White’s mental health in a criminal case was also cited in these court documents related to her mother’s care.

A court order was entered on May 3, 2024, “finding Gwen was not capable of proceeding to trial” in a misdemeanor stalking case. The court ordered White to participate in the Community Based Restoration Program at Elwyn Health Resources for examination and treatment until necessary to help White gain capacity to proceed if possible.

It’s a ruling White disagreed with, saying her son lied about her mental health and that “false information was entered into her medical record,” which she was trying to have removed. 

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Woman accused of shooting two attorneys failed in caring for elderly mother, court documents show

Elder Fraud Unit arrests NC woman for grand theft and money laundering

May 22, 2026

Case #: 2026-001198

A Charlotte, North Carolina, woman was arrested this week for her alleged role in scamming a 66-year-old Bradenton man out of at least $100,000. 

May 18, 2026, Elder Fraud Detective Jim Curulla, with assistance from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, arrested Elizabeth Ann Hildbrand, 51, on charges of Grand Theft and Money Laundering. Hildbrand is awaiting extradition to Manatee County. 

The victim filed a fraud report with BPD in February 2026. He reported investing approximately $300,000 over two years with an online company called "Tesla 1." The victim realized he'd been scammed after attempting to withdraw money from his "Tesla 1" investment account. 

The victim reported communicating via text messages and the Telegram app with two individuals acting as "brokers," including Hildbrand. Financial records indicated the victim transferred a total of $87,651 through wire transfers and cashier's checks to bank accounts owned by Hildbrand. Additionally, the victim purchased Apple gift cards totaling $22,500 and provided the card numbers and PINs to the "brokers." He also mailed an undetermined amount of cash. 

Subpoenas for Hildbrand's financial records indicated she deposited much of the victim's money into her accounts and subsequently made numerous cryptocurrency transactions. 

Following her arrest, Hildbrand agreed to speak with Detective Curulla. She stated she believed she was romantically involved with "Elon Musk" and agreed to help the billionaire purchase cryptocurrency. Hildbrand said she later realized she had become the victim of a romance scam; however, investigators determined she continued to accept money from the Bradenton victim and transfer the funds into cryptocurrency. 

The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report shows that Cyber-related crimes cost Americans nearly $21 billion last year. Actual losses are likely significantly higher because many scams go unreported. Investment scams and romance scams ranked among the top five most commonly reported and costliest online scams. 

In 2025, cases investigated by BPD's Elder Fraud Unit accounted for approximately $8 million in reported losses. So far this year, the unit has investigated losses of at least $750,000 (as of May 1, 2026).  

For information on the Bradenton Police Department Elder Fraud Unit, as well as resources to protect yourself against common scams, visit Bradentonpd.com/Elder-Fraud-Unit. 

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Elder Fraud Unit arrests NC woman for grand theft and money laundering 

VFW Applauds Federal Court Ruling Against Veterans Guardian

Federal judge confirms VFW’s long-held position that unaccredited claims companies are unlawfully profiting from veterans

May 26, 2026

 

WASHINGTON – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) welcomed a major federal court ruling in North Carolina finding that claims consulting company Veterans Guardian violated federal law by preparing and presenting veterans’ disability claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) while charging fees and operating without VA accreditation.

In its order, the court stated, “The evidence is undisputed that Guardian is not accredited, that on behalf of veterans it prepares claims forms, that in those forms it presents disability claims for decision by the VA, and that it charges fees for doing so. These actions violate federal law.”

“This is one of the clearest judicial statements we have seen confirming that these companies are acting unlawfully,” said VFW General Counsel John Muckelbauer. “For years, the VFW has argued that unaccredited claims companies cannot avoid federal law simply by calling themselves ‘consultants’ or ‘coaches.’ The court looked beyond the marketing language and focused on the conduct itself.”

The ruling directly rejects the industry’s long-standing argument that fee-charging claims companies operate outside the VA accreditation system because they are not technically representing veterans as “agents.” Instead, the court determined the company’s activities constituted claims representation under existing federal law.

The decision also reinforces the VFW's long-standing position that current federal statutes already prohibit unaccredited entities from charging veterans for assistance with disability claims preparation and submission.

According to materials filed in the certified class action, plaintiffs alleged Veterans Guardian collected more than $250 million from veterans during the class period, underscoring the scale of the issue nationwide.

“This decision should serve as a wake-up call,” said Muckelbauer. “The court made clear these facts were ‘undisputed.’ That matters. It demonstrates that the law is not unclear or outdated, as the industry has repeatedly claimed. Veterans deserve qualified, accredited representation — not companies exploiting loopholes and charging illegal fees.”

The VFW calls on Congress and the VA to use the ruling as a basis for stronger enforcement actions against unaccredited claims actors and to continue opposing state-level efforts aimed at legitimizing fee-charging companies operating outside the VA accreditation framework.

The VFW remains committed to protecting veterans from predatory practices and ensuring they receive free, accredited assistance when navigating the VA claims process.

Read the full federal court decision. 

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VFW Applauds Federal Court Ruling Against Veterans Guardian 

Women charged after alleged elder exploitation began at Union County grocery store

By Connor Lomis

MONROE, N.C. (WBTV) - Two women were charged with elder exploitation on Tuesday after authorities said they coerced a man at a grocery store in Union County.

Records show Sylvia Marks and Brittany Nicholas were charged with exploitation of an elder and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Sylvia Marks (left), Brittany Nicholas (right)(Courtesy: Union County Sheriff's Office)

Marks was issued a $501,000 bond and was also charged with:

• Misdemeanor larceny
• Obtaining property by false pretenses
• Resisting, delaying, or obstructing

Nicholas was issued a $400,000 secured bond and was also charged with:

• Assault
• Resisting, delaying, or obstructing

Extortion allegedly began at local grocery store, deputies say

The extortion of the elderly man reportedly began at a local grocery store, though the store’s name and location were not specified.

Deputies said Marks approached the man and asked if he remembered her, allegedly concealing her identity by telling him her name was Anna. They said she convinced him they knew each other and, over the next several weeks, persuaded him to let her move into his home. Investigators said Marks later invited Nicholas to move in as well, falsely presenting Nicholas as her daughter.

The man reported that he sent about $25,000 to Marks and Nicholas and noticed several items missing from his home. Detectives said the man appeared to have been assaulted by Nicholas a few days earlier, citing bruising on his arm.

Deputies said they were initially called to the man’s home for a trespassing complaint after Marks and Nicholas were allegedly asked to leave “multiple times” but refused.

During the investigation, the sheriff said investigators learned the situation was not isolated, as another victim who lived just miles away was also targeted using the same tactics. 

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Women charged after alleged elder exploitation began at Union County grocery store 

North Carolina man accused of pretending to be FBI agent in $16k elder exploitation scam

by: Rodney Overton

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WNCN) — A Cary man claimed he was an FBI agent as he swindled $16,000 from a North Carolina man in a case of elder exploitation, according to an arrest warrant from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation

After a month-long investigation, Christopher Aaron Murray, 40, of Cary, was arrested Sunday at the main airport in Charlotte, according to an NC SBI news release Sunday

Authorities said the suspect targeted an eastern North Carolina family and there “may be additional victims.”

“The scam involved a suspect contacting victims and falsely claiming their bank account had been compromised, then demanding payment to resolve the issue,” the SBI said in the release.

SBI officials said the Jones County Sheriff’s Office sought help in the matter on March 18.

The arrest warrant said the suspect claimed he was “FBI Special Agent Brian Blauser” and also pretended to be “a Wells Fargo agent.” A real FBI agent named Brian Blauser appears to exist in Denver, Colorado, as a “complex financial crimes squad.”

Under one charge, the warrant said Murray committed the crime of “exploitation of elder” to take control of the money from a Jones County man.

SBI officials said Murray, arrested at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, was charged with:

• felony conspiracy
• felony obtaining property by false pretenses
• felony exploitation of a disabled or elderly person in a position of trust
• impersonating a law enforcement officer

The news release said anyone who believes they may have been targeted or victimized by the suspect should contact the Jones County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 448-0035 or the SBI’s coastal district office.

Murry is being held in the Mecklenburg County Detention Center. He has a first court appearance scheduled for Monday in Mecklenburg County District Court. 

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North Carolina man accused of pretending to be FBI agent in $16k elder exploitation scam 

Viral video prompts questions about elder abuse reporting

By Randy Aldridge

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A video taken by a Wilmington man has gone viral on social media.

Jonathan Pigford said the video shows his elderly neighbor wandering alone and showing signs of neglect. Many people wondered if the situation had reached the level of abuse or neglect.

Sean Dwyer is program manager for adult services at New Hanover County’s Department of Social Services. While he could not speak directly about the viral video, he said that cases like this are tricky to navigate.

Reporting is key to getting help

Dwyer says that the key to getting someone the help they may need often starts with making a call.

“If it’s just streaming out there for you and other people, and everyone’s talking about it, but no one’s reported it to the entity that needs to be out there to look at it, all it does is delay that person’s care,” Dwyer said.

“I would just encourage them to report. These days, we have lots of different platforms to share information. In the end, we are still the entity that needs that information,” he said.

Understanding the difference between abuse and neglect

Dwyer said that knowing the signs of elder abuse before calling is important. It can help the responding agency determine whether it’s abuse or neglect.

“When someone tells us, oh, they’re being abused, a lot of people use it as kind of a blanket term. For us, it’s a caretaker is abusing someone,” Dwyer said. “When it comes to neglect, there’s actually two versions of neglect. We have caretaker neglect and self-neglect.”

Signs of abuse

• Any type of confinement or restraint as punishment
• Refusing services for somebody (having the ability to put services in place and choosing not to)
• Any type of physical act that violates the individual

Signs of neglect

Self-neglect (most common):

• Not having adequate resources and refusal to seek them out
• Isolation
• Not meeting basic needs such as hygiene and eating

Caretaker neglect:

• Exploitation
• Not meeting basic needs such as hygiene and eating

When in doubt, report

Dwyer stated that regardless of whether the signs are clear, an investigation cannot begin until an official report is filed.

“We’re asking if you see enough concern and you’re worried, please do make a report,” Dwyer said.

If you suspect elder abuse, call 910-798-3500. 

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Viral video prompts questions about elder abuse reporting 

NC House committee hears testimony on guardianship difficulties

by Andrew Pomeranz

North Carolina’s involuntary mental health commitment system is under significant strain, increasingly overwhelming jails, hospital emergency rooms, and law enforcement, according to multiple lawmakers and experts involved in committee hearings. Lawmakers are now revisiting state laws as concerns intensify over gaps in the mental health system that affect public safety.

The House Select Committee on Involuntary Commitment and Public Safety has focused its recent meetings on evaluating both mental health system capacity and the legal processes for committing, treating, or releasing individuals.

After the killing of Charlotte resident Iryna Zarutska, lawmakers passed Iryna’s Law last year. The law imposed stricter pretrial release limits and expanded the role of mental health assessments in certain cases, further constraining the system.

Since Iryna’s Law passed, the legislature has escalated its focus on whether current policies adequately address the needs of individuals with severe mental illness and public safety concerns.

Continuing this examination, faculty from the UNC School of Government presented a case study at a March 18 committee meeting, illustrating how current laws operate in practice.

The example centered on a 36-year-old woman, Paula, experiencing homelessness who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and a substance use disorder. 

In the case study, a court determined three years ago that Paula was incompetent. As a result, she lost the authority to make decisions about her property, health care, and finances. With no assets, Paula is currently under the guardianship of the county Department of Social Services. In the past six months, she has undergone two involuntary commitments, but there has been no sustained improvement, highlighting gaps in outcomes for individuals like Paula.

“What happens when that court adjudicated Paula as incompetent is they took away her authority to make decisions for herself that can be related to her property or her person, her health care, her finances,” associate professor Meredith Smith said. “They removed her authority to make decisions from her, and they gave it to someone else.”

Paula’s family — or another connected individual — can then file a motion seeking guardianship due to concerns about Paula’s living conditions. If approved, responsibility for Paula would shift from the county to her family member.

Associate Professor Mark Botts noted that while family guardianship can sometimes be a better outcome for the individual, that is not always the case.

“Maybe the guardian is doing all they can do, maybe they’re not. But even when they’re doing all they can do, there are limits, because you need Paula’s cooperation,” Botts said.

The discussion underscores a recurring problem: Individuals often cycle through involuntary commitment without lasting improvement. This has prompted lawmakers to question how to strengthen the system’s ability to intervene when someone with a mental illness poses a risk. 

Botts said the issue is more complicated than that.

Under Iryna’s Law, magistrates must consider whether there is reasonable cause to believe someone is dangerous, mentally ill, or poses a risk to others when deciding on pretrial release. If these conditions are met, the magistrate can issue an order to begin involuntary commitment.

However, as Botts noted, this does not guarantee the patient will complete the process or receive treatment.

“That doesn’t mean that they necessarily get to an inpatient facility. That doesn’t mean they will necessarily get treatment,” Botts said. “Even if they do get to the facility and get inpatient treatment, at some point, they’re going to be discharged.”

As the committee continues its work, lawmakers are expected to consider whether adjustments to commitment standards, guardianship authority, or system capacity are necessary to support the goals of Iryna’s Law. 

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NC House committee hears testimony on guardianship difficulties 

‘I was intimidated’: Woman wishes she challenged brother’s control over mother’s finances more

By Jason Stoogenke

CHARLOTTE — Justine Tobin is an investment banker. She has an eye for detail, especially when it comes to dollars and cents. But she says she was still caught off guard.

“This could happen to anyone so I should speak up about what happened to me,” she said. So she sat down with Action 9 attorney Jason Stoogenke to share her story, hoping others learn from her experience.

She told Stoogenke her mother decided years ago, if she ever needed someone to have power of attorney (POA) over her interests, it would be Tobin’s brother.

She says the time came. So, a few years ago, her brother took control of their mother’s finances. Then, Tobin suspected he was abusing that power.

“So I actually did raise a concern to my mother’s broker,” she said. “And this man told me that it was not my problem. I didn’t have power of attorney and no standing.”

Tobin says her brother took his own life in May last year and that she has been administrator of his estate. “And, in that process, I realize that my brother did use all of my mother‘s money,” she said.

Now, looking back, she wishes she had done more to challenge her brother’s role as POA. “What I should have done is contacted more people. I didn’t because I was intimidated. I was already reporting my brother for something that everyone else in my family felt could not be true,” she said. “Hope is hopeless in these situations. Don’t hope and take action.”

She says she should have gone above the broker’s head to any of the following:

• The broker’s company’s compliance officer

• AARP

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

• Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)

• N.C. Attorney General‘s office

• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

As fate would have it, last month, FINRA issued this request, asking people to suggest ways to better protect seniors from financial exploitation. Tobin couldn’t believe her eyes and jumped at the chance to weigh in.

Stoogenke and Tobin suggest the following when it comes to POA:

1. If you are the one selecting someone to have POA over your interests, choose someone based on their character and judgment, not age, gender, pressure.

2. If you are concerned someone is abusing their power:

• Act quickly. Don’t assume it will resolve itself.
• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Contact multiple watchdogs.
• Don’t feel bad if you don’t have a ‘full’ case, all the proof yet. Trust your instincts.

Stoogenke says, if you’re afraid a relative is picking the wrong person to have power of attorney, talk to them, present your concerns logically. But remember: in the end, it’s their decision. 

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‘I was intimidated’: Woman wishes she challenged brother’s control over mother’s finances more

North Carolina: Duke Health Nurse Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Incapacitated Patients

by: Jenna Curren

DURHAM, NC - On Thursday, December 18, a Duke Health nurse was arrested for allegedly performing sexual acts on patients while they were incapacitated.

The alleged suspect, 39-year-old Jomil Uy Tugado, was arrested for performing sexual acts on two people while they were "incapacitated," according to arrest warrants reviewed by WRAL News. One incident took place in May and the other in December, Duke University Campus Police reported.

Tugado has been charged with two felony counts: sexual contact/penetration under the pretext of medical treatment and sex acts by a government or private institution employee. He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery.

The North Carolina Board of Nursing lists Tugado as a state-registered nurse, with a license that is set to expire in February 2027. His license has since been suspended following the charges.

Duke Health officials confirmed that Tugado was removed from patient care and placed on administrative leave effective December 7, one day after he allegedly committed the second offense. During his first court appearance on Friday, December 19, a judge denied Tugado bond. He is now scheduled to appear in court on January 6, 2026. 

Duke officials said Tugado began his employment with Duke Health in July 2023. Duke Health officials said they are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in their ongoing investigation.

If any patients have witnessed or experienced inappropriate conduct at Duke Health, they are encouraged to call the hotline at 919-385-3575.

"At Duke Health, our top priority is to maintain a safe environment for all patients to receive care," Duke Health officials wrote in a statement. "We have a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct and take all allegations of inappropriate behavior seriously."

Tugado is the second hospital employee in the Triangle in the last two weeks to be accused of committing sexual crimes against his patients. A UNC Rex nurse, 28-year-old Brayan Alvarez-Ortiz, has been accused of sexually assaulting sedated patients. Raleigh police say he assaulted patients on three separate occasions while they were sedated and recovering from surgery.

"It's a traumatic experience no matter what the circumstances are, but for a survivor to think that they are going into a situation where the people that are involved are supposed to be held to a much higher standard, that they should be safe under any circumstances, it's terrible for anyone to have to go through," said Jeff Whitson with domestic and sexual violence prevention non-profit InterAct.  

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North Carolina: Duke Health Nurse Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Incapacitated Patients

Charlotte man fights plan to demolish grandmother’s home as she battles dementia

By Nora O'Neill

The house at 5701 Monroe Road sits beside county-owned land slated for Park and Recreation use. A Charlotte man is asking a judge to pause its demolition while he seeks guardianship over his grandmother, who has dementia. Screenshot via Google Street View

As Mecklenburg County prepares to demolish a Monroe Road house for a parks and recreation project, one man is racing the clock in court to save what he says is the only major asset of his nearly 90-year-old grandmother who has dementia.

“It’s against her wishes,” Tyler Dease said. “Everything screams, ‘stop, this is not right.’”

The home, located at 5701 Monroe Road, was sold to the county in May for $450,000, according to public records. The sale was completed through a power of attorney, a legal document that allows someone to act on another person’s behalf. County commissioners unanimously approved the purchase for Park and Recreation use.

But Dease said his grandmother, Joan Baker, has dementia and lacked the mental capacity to consent to the power of attorney that allowed her home to be sold. Baker is currently living with a family member since her house was sold.

“She can’t make a decision to save her life,” he said. “If Joan’s not mentally incompetent, why did somebody else sell her house?”

Baker had a stroke in 2016 and was later diagnosed with dementia, Dease said. He said her condition has only gotten worse, and she is often confused and unable to understand or make major decisions.

Now, Dease is seeking legal guardianship over his grandmother and has asked in Mecklenburg County Court for a judge to temporarily halt any demolition of the home while the court reviews her condition and the authority used to sell the home. Dease also filed a motion asking for a temporary restraining order to freeze the sale proceeds and suspend the authority under the power of attorney, according to court records.

“It’s just irreparable harm overall if her house is demoed. It’s her only asset,” he said.

But the judge has not yet acted on the request because the court paperwork has not been formally served to Baker, leaving no court order preventing demolition.

A hearing on whether Baker should be declared legally incompetent, the first major step toward guardianship, is scheduled for January. The court has appointed an attorney to represent Baker’s interests.

Meanwhile, demolition could legally happen at any time.

Dease said he first realized the demolition may happen soon when he drove past the home the week of Thanksgiving and saw some siding was removed. When he called the county’s permitting office, staff confirmed an active demolition permit had been issued.

The Monroe Road house sits next to land already owned by the county, where Park and Recreation officials are developing a new recycling center, Dease said. It is unclear exactly what the county will do with the land where Baker’s house sits, but Dease said he suspects it will become part of the project.

Dease said he has contacted county officials to explain that his grandmother had dementia and that court filings were underway. He said his goal was simple: slow things down long enough for a judge to review what happened.

“There’s a chance that this may not be a positive outcome,” Dease said. “At this point we’re just trying to make it aware that Joan Baker might not know what’s going on, and that the power of attorneys that are supposedly acting on her behalf can’t be legal because of her mental capacity.”

In an email to the Observer, a county spokesperson confirmed only that commissioners authorized the purchase of the parcel from Baker for Park and Recreation purposes. The county did not answer specific questions about the demolition timeline, pending court filings, or Baker’s mental capacity.

Dease said he does not believe the county knew about his grandmother’s dementia or the family’s legal concerns at the time of the sale. But with a guardianship case now pending, he hopes officials will voluntarily pause demolition before a judge can weigh in, especially given what the property – which sits near where his grandfather is buried – represents to his family.

“It’s very sad,” Dease said. “This isn’t just a house to us.” 

Full Article & Source:
Charlotte man fights plan to demolish grandmother’s home as she battles dementia

Elderly woman facing elder abuse charges in Onslow County

Elderly woman facing elder abuse charges in Onslow County

By WITN Web Team 

SWANSBORO, N.C. (WITN) - An elderly woman from Swansboro is accused in an elder abuse case that landed her in jail the day before Thanksgiving.

Swansboro police charged Donna Martin with abusing the disabled/elderly with injury and resisting a public officer.

Arrest warrants say it happened on Wednesday when the 79-year-old Martin did “confine and restrain that adult in a place and under a condition that was cruel and unsafe.”

A warrant says the man, who has the same last name as Martin, suffered mental injury and that the suspect is his caretaker.

The arresting officer says they were called to the home for a domestic disturbance and was shown video evidence of the abuse.

Records show the elderly man and suspect live at the same home on Ashley Nicole Court.

Martin was charged back in August with false imprisonment. In that case, police say they saw the woman stand behind a vehicle being driven by the same victim, “preventing it from backing out of the garage” while he was trying to leave the home.

The woman was jailed on a $3,500 bond. If released, the woman has been ordered to stay away from the victim and can only return to the home accompanied by police to retrieve personal belongings.

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Elderly woman facing elder abuse charges in Onslow County 

Ex-Durham assisted living worker exploited elderly victim, warrant shows

by Matthew Sockol

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — A former employee at an assisted living facility in Durham was arrested Monday in connection with the financial exploitation of an elderly victim about two months ago, a warrant shows.

According to a warrant filed by the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, 35-year-old Kristen Ranay Gibson was a caretaker at Durham Ridge Assisted Living when the warrant says she took financial advantage of a disabled elderly client in August.

Gibson is accused of using the elderly victim’s bank card and taking money from her bank account without permission, according to the warrant.

The warrant shows Gibson is charged with the felony offenses of exploiting a disabled/elderly victim, obtaining property under false pretenses, and financial card theft.

Court records show Gibson was not given bond. She is scheduled to make her first appearance in Durham County Court on Wednesday morning.

CBS 17 has reached out to Durham Ridge Assisted Living for more information.

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Ex-Durham assisted living worker exploited elderly victim, warrant shows 

Woman accused of stealing jewelry from elderly woman valued at $55K, police say

By Spencer Chrisman 

CORNELIUS, N.C. (WBTV) - A caregiver for an elderly woman was charged earlier this week after police said they stole jewelry and later sold it to a pawnshop in another state, according to Cornelius police.

Cornelius police said on Friday, Oct. 17, that earlier this week, they received a report of jewelry larceny from an elderly woman, valued at an estimated $55,000.

The elderly woman said that the jewelry was allegedly stolen from May 2025 until August 2025.

Police said they were able to determine that one of the caregivers they hired, identified as Kathryn Actis, had allegedly stolen the jewelry and sold it to a pawn shop out of state.

Officials said the stolen jewelry included the victim’s wedding ring, high school class ring, and pieces of her late husband’s jewelry. But the jewelry had already been melted down for gold crap by the pawn shop prior to the elderly woman reporting the alleged robbery.

Actis was charged with exploitation of an elderly adult and felony larceny. She was arrested and taken to the Davidson County Jail where she received a $15,000 secured bond.

Police said they found evidence that Actis has stolen from other elderly people while she was acting as a caregiver.

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Woman accused of stealing jewelry from elderly woman valued at $55K, police say 

La Grange woman alleged to have scammed elderly victim of $40,000

Crystal Marie Anderson, 37, of La Grange, has been charged with felony exploitation of an older or disabled adult and 197 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses after an investigation revealed she allegedly stole approximately $40,000 from an elderly victim over several months.  

 

By WRAL staff

Over a series of transactions that took place over months, a La Grange woman is alleged to have scammed another person out of approximately $40,000.

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday announced the arrest of Crystal Marie Anderson, 37, on charges of exploitation of an older or disabled adult and obtaining property by false pretenses.

Because the alleged scam went on for so long -- the sheriff's office described "multiple transactions spanning several months" -- Anderson faces almost 200 charges.

She was booked into the Wayne County Detention Center on $130,000 secured bond.

The sheriff's office did not identify the alleged victim or describe how Anderson might have won that person's trust. 

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La Grange woman alleged to have scammed elderly victim of $40,000