By Derrick Wright
In Fayette County, 58-year-old Lisa Costolo faces over 1,600 felony charges for allegedly siphoning more than $600,000 from a neighbor suffering from dementia, as reported by WPXI. Costolo, who was granted power of attorney, is said to have used this position to drain the finances of Norma Scott, a widow with no children, over two years. The discovery of this came to light through a Medicaid application that signaled the depletion of Scott's assets.
Scott transitioned to a full-time resident at Uniontown Health and Rehab in 2018, it wasn't until two years later that the home was informed by Costolo that Scott could no longer cover the costs of care, prompting the Medicaid application which returned laden with red flags, according to CBS Pittsburgh. The subsequent investigation by state police revealed extensive ATM withdrawals and checks that depleted Scott's savings, actions justified by Costolo under the claim that Scott wished for her to take care of herself and her children.
Assistant Fayette County District Attorney Melinda Dellarose put the situation into grave context: "Norma Scott worked her whole life, saved, managed her money so it would be there for her when she needed it most," she stated, as per WPXI. The financial abuse included, but was not limited to, luxurious purchases such as her daughter's wedding dress and various trips, detailed by prosecutors.
The case strikes a particularly somber note as the victim, Norma Scott, passed away in 2021 at the age of 89, never reclaiming the financial security she had presumably entrusted to Costolo.
Costolo was arraigned Thursday and released on bail. She's due back in court for her preliminary hearing on August 14.
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Fayette County Woman Faces 1,600 Charges for Allegedly Exploiting Neighbor with Dementia
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