Arizona: Financial Exploitation of Seniors is Difficult to Prove

Page Giacin became suspicious of the man who was taking care of her terminally ill father last summer. The caretaker was a cowboy the family had known for years, a cowboy Giacin's father, Don Steinman, did not always agree with. But because Giacin and her brother lived far away from their father's Arizona ranch, they understood why Steinman had chosen the cowboy.

Steinman died in August, at around the same time Giacin's stepmother, Barbara, was diagnosed with cancer. The cowboy, whose name we are not disclosing because he is not charged with any wrongdoing, stuck around to take care of Barbara.

"She told me she was scared of being alone and he was willing to stay," Giacin said.

Barbara Steinman died in January. Giacin learned that Barbara had written a will before she died and left the ranch to the cowboy. Now, Giacin and her brother had hoped to keep their father's property in the family for generations.

"This was his legacy to his grandchildren, to all of us," Giacin said. "He's buried on the land. In order to visit the grave, I have to be able to go onto the property."

What caused Don and Barbara Steinman to leave the property to their caretaker is unknown. The attorney who created the latest will told CBS 5 Investigates that Barbara Steinman visited his office in October and appeared competent.

Investigators said it is often difficult to tell the difference between a gift to a caretaker or family member and financial exploitation.

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Financial Exploitation of Seniors Difficult to Prove