Nick Stagliano Jr., a veteran criminal investigator for the Orange County District Attorney's Office, investigated Mabel Waingrow's complaints about thievery but they were unfounded. He remained friendly with Waingrow after the investigation ended. He started running errands for her, cut her grass and helped her around the house, changing her sheets and assisting her in the bathroom.
In 2001, she wrote a will that made Stagliano the sole beneficiary of her $990,000 estate. Shortly afterward, a court named Stagliano as Waingrow's legal guardian because she couldn't take of her own affairs.
Leilani Zutrau, a great-niece of Mabel Waingrow, says that she and her four siblings never knew their great-aunt because they lived abroad as they were growing up. Zutrau says she only became aware of Waingrow's existence when a lawyer who was preparing a will for her in 2000 came across her great-nieces and -nephews, who are scattered from Massachusetts to Long Island. Zutrau, who lives in Mineola, says that she never received notice of the court proceeding in 2001 that resulted in Nick Stagliano being named Waingrow's guardian.
Five years after Waingrow's death, Stagliano's motives and his right to inherit her estate are being challenged in Orange County Surrogate Court. Waingrow's will is being contested by her five great-nieces and -nephews.
Full Article and Source:
'Routine' will case gets sticky - Family says investigator's tactics shady
In 2001, she wrote a will that made Stagliano the sole beneficiary of her $990,000 estate. Shortly afterward, a court named Stagliano as Waingrow's legal guardian because she couldn't take of her own affairs.
Leilani Zutrau, a great-niece of Mabel Waingrow, says that she and her four siblings never knew their great-aunt because they lived abroad as they were growing up. Zutrau says she only became aware of Waingrow's existence when a lawyer who was preparing a will for her in 2000 came across her great-nieces and -nephews, who are scattered from Massachusetts to Long Island. Zutrau, who lives in Mineola, says that she never received notice of the court proceeding in 2001 that resulted in Nick Stagliano being named Waingrow's guardian.
Five years after Waingrow's death, Stagliano's motives and his right to inherit her estate are being challenged in Orange County Surrogate Court. Waingrow's will is being contested by her five great-nieces and -nephews.
Full Article and Source:
'Routine' will case gets sticky - Family says investigator's tactics shady
4 comments:
Please be aware that there are numerous misrepresentations in the article entitled "'Routine' Will Case Gets Sticky". The guardianship hearing occurred BEFORE the guardian drove Mabel Waingrow to HIS attorney to execute a will bequeathing everything to him (a clear conflict of interest). The official paperwork & ruling of that hearing occurred just weeks after the will was drafted.
Leilani,
Thanks for the clarification!
Please consider working with NASGA -- it's going to take every one of us to turn the tide on the predatory practice of abusive and unlawful guardianships!
Visit our website, www.StopGuardianAbuse.org and submit the requested information on the "Join NASGA advocates for reform" page --- and become part of this organization dedicated to reforming this good law gone bad!
I'll be brief with this one....
Reference a criminal investigation into this matter:
1. It would be appropriate for a district attorney's office other than Stagliano's to conduct an investigation, if warranted, to avoid an obvious conflict of interests.
2. The entire criminal case would rest on proof that Mabel did not have capacity to give consent reference financial matters at the time of the will. Due to the time delay this would probably require mecial records and some form of expert testimony.
I'm commenting on a criminal investigation, not civil.
joecitizen, very good observation.
I have my opinion, in one word: opportunist
A Timeline would put all of the activities and events into a tidy package.
I have to wonder where Mabel's personal property ended up?
Especially, her personal calendars, journals or diaries, saved letters from family and friend and cards etc. These items would tell quite a story.
Post a Comment