Great Falls assisted living managers charged with stealing from a dementia patient

Two women are charged with exploiting an elderly man's pocketbook from their positions as management in a Great Falls assisted living home. 

Jillian Lorrain Davis and Erica T. Lawrence are charged with exploitation of an older and incapacitated person, a felony. 

In October, one of the man's children reported to Great Falls police that he suffered from dementia and stayed at the Bluebird Assisted Living Facility. A woman reportedly charged with managing the man's finances said Davis, house manager of the assisted living facility, had been using his checking account for medical supplies, cigarettes, snacks and clothing. 

The woman told police that the man's medical supplies had been paid for by other sources and that he had no new clothes to show for the money spent.

According to court documents, the incident that prompted them to visit police included a $1,000 withdrawal from a Great Falls bank, which Davis said would be for a new TV. The family reported, however, that the man never got a new TV.

Great Falls police reportedly found that Davis had received approximately $1,967.50 from the man's account between August and October in 2017. Another $40 check was written to Ken Davis, Jillian's husband and not an employee at Bluebird, according to reports. 

In addition, Lawrence, a former Bluebird manager, was reportedly received $2,070 from the man's account between January 2016 and August 2017. 

In speaking with the general manager at Bluebird, police learned the "plan of care" for the man included conditions that the woman in charge of his finances would handle the man's money, not the staff. The plan was signed and filed by Davis and Lawrence, according to court documents. 

The manager also told police that Davis and her husband had reportedly been caught stealing a flat screen TV from the Meadowlark House, a facility affiliated with Bluebird. The incident was reportedly caught on surveillance footage, but they returned the TV and staff never reported the incident to police, she said. 

Meadowlark manager Laurie Kelly told the Tribune Davis no longer works at assisted living homes. She said Davis was likely allowed to return to work after the TV incident because she returned it, but added that there was less supervision at Bluebird to impose some discipline. 

In October, Davis reportedly stopped showing up to work after a manager said she wanted to have a meeting regarding some money matters. In November, officers were able to phone Davis, who said she "did not know" the man was a dementia patient. Davis was not in custody at her initial appearance on Monday after posting her $2,500 bond. Her arraignment has not yet been set.

Lawrence, according to court records, has not yet been arrested on a $2,500 warrant issued in January.

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Great Falls assisted living managers charged with stealing from a dementia patient