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Candyce Nesheim said thieves broke into her Gardenia Avenue home and ransacked the place while she was away in July.
Nesheim said the thieves cut a screen, shattered a window and stole a television, tools, money and precious heirlooms.
Deputies with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said surveillance images from a local pawn shop showed Matthew Hall with some of the stolen items but said Albert Blackburn was the actual thief.
The pair were living next door to the burglary victim at the home of an elderly couple.
Deputies said they'd been invited in by the couples' granddaughter, Mary Hall.
"They are the epitome of what a scumbag is, to go after your grandparents," Sheriff Mike Chitwood said.
Chitwood said police found out the three were exploiting the seniors, getting money from the couple through threats and intimidation.
"To basically eviscerate these folks in their golden years, to destroy their money and their sense of security," Chitwood said.
Sheriff's Office investigators said the elderly couple lived in such fear of their granddaughter and the two men she allegedly brought into their home, they lost significant weight, their health deteriorated and they are now in an assisted living facility.
Investigators said the suspects have since disappeared after Mary Hall allegedly stole her grandparents' car, but they've spotted her out of state on social media.
"Now she's set up a GoFundMe account claiming she needs money to get to Florida to take care of her elderly grandparents," Chitwood said.
Investigators said the only people the suspects were helping were themselves.
Albert Blackburn and Maria Hall have been arrested in North Carolina.
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Two arrested in Volusia elderly exploitation case, third sought
1 comment:
We need strong elder abuse laws to help deter these crimes.
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