A Lakeland couple is accused of stealing more than $138,000 from an elderly woman with dementia.The Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested Jo Marie and Eric Weeks, accusing them of taking advantage of Jo Marie Weeks' 88-year-old aunt, Lelia Boyd of Winter Haven.
During a first appearance hearing for the couple Tuesday, Polk County Judge Robert L. Williams Jr. set bail at $150,000 for each of them.
They face charges of elderly exploitation, swindling or obtaining property of $50,000 or more, and theft of $50,000 or more from a person 65 years old or older.
Arrest reports provide the following account:
Jo Marie Weeks, 32, was serving as power of attorney for her aunt and was able to write checks from her aunt's bank account.
In October 2008, she moved her aunt from a Missouri assisted-living facility to another facility in Winter Haven.
"Since this move, Mrs. Weeks was suspected of buying a new vehicle, expensive presents and moving into a new home," reports state.
Deputies began investigating in January 2009 after the Florida Department of Children & Families reported suspicions of elderly exploitation. A court-appointed guardian for Lelia Boyd provided financial records to investigators showing Jo Marie Weeks had made checks payable to herself and her husband throughout 2008.
Deputies were also provided depositions in which Jo Marie Weeks spoke about using her aunt's money to purchase a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban and pay rent for her family's residence at 5971 Charloma Drive in Lakeland.
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Couple Charged in $138K From Elderly Woman
Florida is known for its elder abuse. Hope they get a long term!
ReplyDeleteVery sad case. You're right, LoriView, FL isn't safe for the elderly.
ReplyDeletemore crooks crooks everywhere thank you nasga for the news items that we do not see in our local news or world news no not one word without this blog how would we know the real news? Jo Marie and Eric Weeks need to be incarcerated sending a strong message to others do this and we will haul your sorry behinds to a cage
ReplyDeleteJo Marie and Eric Weeks are a vulture tag team.
ReplyDeleteWell reading the comments left regarding Jo Marie, and Eric is actually quite sad. These kids DO NOT DESERVE to be incarcerated! There is a hell of a lot worse in the world today...STARTING with the government.
ReplyDeleteOur government STEALS, and swindles tax payers money on a daily basis...When will THEY be held accountable? But sadly, they get away with it, and no one ever questions when the government steals from us...
They are BOTH very good kids, I think there is something to be said for ignorance of the law and the way things are SUPPOSED to be done. Were they meaning to cause harm to anyone? NOT HARDLY!
These kids were not intentionally stealing ANYTHING! Maybe it appears that they did, but that is merely because it looks good for the prosecutor come election time..(THINK ABOUT IT!) This is actually a pretty sad story, but obviously the people here have no idea what THE REAL STORY IS..Very sad!
God did not put you on this earth to judge anyone, so stop it!
Whatever happened to 'INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY'???
What is happening to people in this world?
Unless you know these kids, please do not judge them. They are two very kind, gentle, and very sweet kids.
A very small suggestion...PRAY FOR THEM! and pray that the truth is exposed here. These kids have no business in jail.
As a matter of fact, if I am not mistaken, and I know I'm not. Jo Marie is the ONLY BENEFICIARY and that was done COMPLETELY by her aunt. Every dime of her aunts money would be hers some day anyway...AND I believe her aunt ALSO gave her permission..(and her aunt was of sound mind when she did so)to use the money to buy herself a new car, and to move closer to where the aunt was residing..
So please do not judge unless you know the story.
Anonymous 2, did they steal the $138K or not?
ReplyDeleteIf they did, then it doesn't matter what the governments is doing or anybody else. What matters is that they stole the $138K and that's a criminal act. And they should be held accountable. Sweet kids don't steal from vulnerable elderly people suffering from memory impairment.
And if you don't think it's a big deal to have someone steal $138K, then kindly make out a check for $138K and reimburse the aunt. It's a lot of money.
I think you should have more empathy for the victim.
If you are correct that Jo Marie is the only beneficiary, that doesn't matter. The money still belongs to the aunt until Jo Marie's passing.
Joey is my niece) and for the record she took care of Auntie G (as we call her) when no one else would. Auntie G's only son has had nothing to do with her for years, but HE wants her money. He was completely cut out of her will, and Joey was made the sole heir, because my aunt always loved Joey and Joey loved her. When he found out, he was not very happy - why else would he give a crap what happened to his mother - he had even stated before to our family, he "just wished she would die." Joey moved Auntie G to Florida, so she could be closer and visit her more. AND, another very important point, when she got her to Florida the doctors said she had been SEVERELY over-medicated and would most likely have died within 3 months. Now you tell me, if all Joey wanted was the money, why wouldn't she have just left her as she was and it would have ALL been hers?? Just know this, the media, and the law do NOT tell you everything, in fact they don't really care ... but WE KNOW the truth. They just try to make them seem like terrible people, because IF they told the whole story, every body would be up in arms over the injustice of it.
ReplyDeleteKam, you've made good points, but you must admit that something went astray with Joey, don't you? Her good intentions of taking care of her beloved Aunt went sour in the worst way. $138,000 is an awful lot of money and it didn't happen in one event.
ReplyDeleteSo, something went terribly, terribly wrong.
You're very right that the media doesn't have the whole story and that we get only a snippet.
I love you Joey. The truth will set you free!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJo and Eric are good people that naively got involved in something way over their heads. Jo is a good, loving mother and Eric is a good, hardworking father and provider. I am shocked that people would make judgements when they do not even know the full story and there has not even been a conviction yet. They do not deserve a prison sentence that is for sure. It almost sounds like a case of unjust intervention in a family affair and a lot of presumptions made by strangers and not so strangers.
ReplyDeleteAll I have to say is that if Joey's auntie G knew that she was being held in jail she would be the first to bail her out!!!!! Joey was like her granddaughter and she was always her favorite! Joey felt the same about her Auntie G. These people who are posting the negative crap obviously don't know the situation. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? People believe everything that is printed in the paper or on the net without knowing the facts.
ReplyDeleteI am the one who posted as Anonymous..on Dec. 23rd..(directly under Betty's post) I am so HAPPY to say that they were both released, and reunited with their family, and both of their children. I have been following this case, and to be quite honest, it has been nothing but a train wreck! Florida (Polk County) is the most screwed up jail system I have ever known.. Thank GOD those kids are out of there! This has been extremely sad, and SHAME ON ALL OF YOU FOR JUDGING THEM! YOU DO NOT KNOW THOSE KIDS!
ReplyDeleteI just hope that none of you are ever put in a similar situation.. It has not been pleasant for anyone. What shame you all should feel for making judgment on ANYONE.. I am pretty sure none of you are perfect, perhaps you just haven't been put in a situation to be caught. (and by the way, I am ALSO her aunt)
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteReleased as in found "not guilty"? Or released until trial? I'm asking for clarification because you didn't say.
The article said the money was spent on a new car, expensive presents, and something about a new home -- while the aunt's living in a facility.
You ask us not to be judgmental. OK, but unless the article was wrong, how could we not be?
And it doesn't matter if the other Aunt told them to take the money and do these things because Lelia Boyd had dementia -- even though Jo Marie had been her caregiver and Lelia likely felt she should pay Jo Marie something for that.
You're right, we don't know the circumstances, but it does appear that Jo Marie and Eric Weeks have a lot of family support despite the tone of the article.
They are currently in trial. There is NO EVIDENCE supporting ANY ARREST made by Polk County.
ReplyDeleteDO NOT assume anything until you know the facts please.
That kid took care of Aunti G, and despite what everyone here may be thinking.
Her husband DID have a job that paid quite well.
Apparently they think he didn't work, when he did.
Aunti G had no contact with her son, and he was estranged for most of her years as an adult. Her son has caused this because he is worried he isn't going to get anything when she passes. And he wasn't getting anything. She had written him out of her will. He is bitter.
Please don't believe what you read in the paper...It's not even close to being the truth.
Jo Marie, and Eric are both AWESOME kids that are the kindest, most gentle souls you could ever know. This is nothing but a mess. And from what I know about Polk County; they are crooks!
Perhaps the Polk County Sheriff needs to investigate Peggy DeVivo the court appointed guardian who swindled THOUSANDS from Leila Boyd while she was guardian. Using the attorney that she used to work for she swindled more than $138k from the elderly woman's account while she cared for her, or maybe they need to investigate Terry Dodson a Kansas City Missouri Police officer/relative who had custody of her prior to Jo Marie having custody. He not only stole her money but also tried to kill her by pushing her down the steps of her home. He told her that her car was making a funny noise and told her to go down and listen to it. As she started going down the steps to the basement which a-joined her garage, he pushed her down the steps which resulted in 2 broken knee's and near death trauma to her head. Now tell me, why weren't these 2 people charged with anything? COMPLETE INJUSTICE.. Disgusting. At least Jo Marie took care of her..
ReplyDeleteI need help. Peggy devivo was my moms guardian. I was never contacted until her house, land and everything she owned was gone. Somehow her will was changed. Even though she had deminta. Her supposed best friend. A woman i never heard of has a son in law who just happens to be a lawyer. I believe she was over medicated. I was able to get there just before she died. I need help with this matter. Please. They took everything. My children were left nothing. Peggy devivo threatened to have me removed from my moms nursing home which she was self pay. There was quite a bit of money and property. Help.
ReplyDelete