Beverly Widdiss says every day for years she made sure an elderly woman she cared for ate a proper meal – and she did it without pay.But a New Port Richey Police detective says payday came over and over again, starting about a year ago, and continued after nearly $60,000 of the 82-year-old woman's funds were drained.
Widdiss, 46, was arrested on charges of exploitation of the elderly and scheme to defraud. She was released from the Land O' Lakes Jail later after posting $20,000 bail.
Det. Jason Engel said Widdiss was the woman's caregiver and "gained the trust and confidence" of the victim before bilking her out of tens of thousands of dollars.
Widdiss said the woman, whose family lives "up north" and doesn't take care of her, has been helping her out financially for years and she was always told she'd "get everything anyway."
"I was power of attorney and everything," Widdiss said. "…She told me that I would never have to work for the rest of my life and that I could travel."
Widdiss says she's angry and hurt. She said in recent months she noticed the woman has had memory problems and has seemed "out of it" and she thinks it's because of medication.
"I loved her to death and she loves me," she said. "…I don't even think she knows what's going on."
Widdiss, 3608 Murrow St., New Port Richey, said in addition to one day being vindicated, she is going to sue those who have shamed her, including the police and the nursing home.
"I did get framed – bad," she said. "Real bad."
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Caregiver Exploited Elderly Woman, New Port Richey Police Say
How wrong you are Beverly... #1-We/you have no right to help ourselves to an elderly's assets even if it was our own parent. #2-Beverly will not be vindicated, she will not successfully sue those who have shamed her.
ReplyDeleteNow, speaking from experience in the state of Florida, more than likely this poor old woman will get a "court appointed" guardian who will finish the job off of exploiting her while the lawyers and judges get paid from the elderly womans estate too. Beverly can ask for all the help she wants but there is none. The Dept. of Elder Affairs, Attorney General and many others will turn a blind eye and pass the buck. That's what has happened to my mom and I didn't steal a nickel so... good luck with that one Beverly!
Note: Florida does not appear to have a problem with the elderly's assets being stolen... it's a matter of who is stealing them! I think the state wants a piece of that pie!!
These kinds of caregiver theft cases can go either way. We don't have enough information to know if the caregiver did exploit the person or not.
ReplyDeleteHave to go on our gut feeling.