OLATHE, Kan. — KSHB 41 News usually doesn't show mugshots anymore, but its doing so in this case because the 39-year-old suspect faces a slew of charges that involve stealing from the elderly.
On Monday, the Johnson County District Attorney's Office stated their investigation isn't over and are encouraging other victims to come forward.
Patrica Ann Myler is charged with seven counts of mistreatment of an elder person, six counts of identity theft and three counts of computer crime targeting elderly residents at an Olathe nursing home, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office
Beginning in March of 2019, Myler oversaw billing at the Villa St. Francis Nursing Home in Olathe.
During which time, the Johnson County District Attorney says she targeted elderly clients with a variety of crimes.
Her former boss says when Myler resigned in Dec. 2020, his team discovered thousands of dollars were improperly routed and they notified authorities.
"The billing should have gone to the state or through villa and that it was not done that way," Rodney Whittington, CEO of Villa St. Francis Nursing Home said in a phone interview Monday.
It was not only a shock but also an alert to review oversight.
"If you have ultimate authority and access then and you choose to abuse that, then it could happen that we continue to strengthen our processes re-examine it," Myler said.
Before Villa St. Francis, the Johnson County District Attorney says Myler was employed at AdventHealth Care Center in Overland Park at 6501 West 75th St. from June 2018 to February 2019.
A spokesperson for AdventHealth referred inquiries pertaining to the former employee to the Johnson County District Attorney's Office who wants to hear from residents who have may noticed any financial irregularities during the time Myler worked at either facility.
Myler was arrested for the alleged crimes after a collaborative investigation by the Kansas Department of Children and Families' Adult Protective Services division, the Olathe Police Department and the Johnson County District Attorney's office.
"Our older adults feel a lot of shame, a lot of embarrassment when these situations occur," Chrisy Khatib, with the Kansas Department for Children and Families said.
Almost a quarter of the cases Kansas DCF investigated last year involve financial exploitation of the elderly.
There are some red flags loved ones should watch out for.
"Are bills being paid on time? Are there additional people being added to signature cards? Are there large transactions missing? Large transactions meaning large money transactions being removed from bank accounts?" Khatib said
The AARP believes elder finance abuse is a growing threat that is largely under-reported.
"You know, sometimes people don't know they're being taken advantage of financially," Mary Tritsch with AARP Kansas said. "It may just be because they don't pay attention to their finances. Or maybe there's some cognitive problems impairments happening."
Usually learning about it in the first place begins with having an honest conversation.
"Just questions and make sure if you're a family member, that you let other family members know that you're concerned and that you're looking into it so that they don't think you're part of the problem," Tritsch said. "But it's really asking questions."
If you suspect your loved one to be victim of fraud in Kansas you call the Johnson County District Attorney’s "White Collar Crime" hotline at (913) 715-3140 or the Kansas Protection Report center at 1-800-922-5330.
Myler posted bond via Heartland Bail Bonds Monday evening after making her first appearance earlier in the day, according to court records.
Her attorney, Brandan Davies, released a statement to KSHB 41 News.
"We are at the initial steps of the legal process with Ms. Myler’s case. Our firm is doing an investigation into the allegations against Ms. Myler. Currently, the case is in litigation and we cannot comment further on a pending matter," Davies wrote in an e-mail
Another hearing is set in Myler's case on Feb. 17 at 9:00 a.m. in Division 3 at the Johnson County Courthouse.
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