Lafayette police: Woman pretended to be doctor, exploited elderly

Lafayette police are looking for a woman accused of exploiting an elderly woman under the guise of being a doctor practicing neurofeedback therapy after police received six referrals from Adult Protective Services.

An arrest warrant affidavit indicates Julie Steenhoek, 53, is wanted on one count of felony at-risk exploitation. She does not appear to have a prior criminal record in Colorado, but police found several online complaints regarding her neurofeedback services.

Police said Steenhoek convinced the woman to go out of state to visit family, then placed her husband in an assisted living facility and moved her own family into the home, which she then put on the market.

Family members began reporting Steenhoek — who went by “Dr. Julie” — after they believed she was preventing them from speaking to the woman, even sending an email purportedly from the woman saying that she was “of sound mind and body,” the affidavit said.

One family member also called Adult Protective Services after attending an elder abuse seminar put on by the Jefferson County District Attorney and thinking that an example case sounded like what was happening to the couple, according to police.  (Click to Continue)

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Lafayette police: Woman pretended to be doctor, exploited elderly