New law eases guardianship process for parents of disabled children

News. A recently signed New Jersey law allowing parents to seek guardianship before a child with developmental disabilities turns 18 was inspired in part by the experience of Sandyston resident Lee-Ellen Pisauro.

The calendar did not stop moving.

When Lee-Ellen Pisauro of Sandyston marked her son Sam’s 18th birthday on Dec. 22, 2021, it was not a celebration but the start of a legal struggle that left her unable to make medical and care decisions for her child with Down syndrome.

Under previous New Jersey law, parental authority ended when a child turned 18, even if the child required daily support and advocacy. Although Sam’s needs did not change overnight, Pisauro was required to navigate a lengthy guardianship process before she could resume decision-making on his behalf.

“Professionally, I had peripherally supported families through the guardianship process; however, it was not until I navigated it personally as a parent and presumptive guardian that I experienced the unintended consequences of the procedural timelines embedded in the prior law,” Pisauro said.

Pisauro, who works with special-needs students at Wallkill Valley High School, said the gap in guardianship created uncertainty and disrupted continuity of care.

“Sam was without a guardian until March 22, 2022,” she said. “During that period, my husband and I were unable to manage some of his health care needs, access his medical benefits, or obtain documentation for time-sensitive diagnostic testing.”

Concerned other families would face similar challenges, Pisauro met with former state Sen. Steven Oroho and his deputy chief of staff, Brett Conrads, now chief of staff to Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, to advocate for legislative change.

After Oroho left the Legislature, Inganamort sponsored legislation allowing parents of children with developmental disabilities to apply for guardianship up to 180 days before their child turns 18. The bill, was recently signed into law.

“Parents like Lee-Ellen who have children with medically complex needs or require everyday decision-making assistance are some of the most selfless and tireless advocates I have ever had the pleasure to serve,” said Inganamort, R-Morris. “They shouldn’t have to battle a legal system to ensure their child remains protected.”

Pisauro testified before the Senate Health Committee in early 2024, and the bill later advanced through both chambers of the Legislature. It passed Dec. 22, 2025, and was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy the following day.

“I’m proud to have played a role alongside Lee-Ellen in helping get this common-sense and compassionate law across the finish line,” Inganamort said. “It will make a big difference in the lives of New Jersey families.”

Pisauro said the law will help ensure smoother transitions for families who rely on guardianship protections.

“Pursuing guardianship is a personal decision. It’s not for everyone,” she said. “But for those needing this protection, the passage of this law will ensure a smoother transition for vulnerable young adults and their families.” 

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New law eases guardianship process for parents of disabled children 

Woman arrested, accused of defrauding disabled adult in Wakulla County

 By WCTV Staff

WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV) - A woman was arrested on Wednesday and is accused of exploiting a disabled adult, according to the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office.

Tracy Peckham, age 62, was taken into custody after “detectives determined Peckham had defrauded the victim of approximately $17,000 between November 2023 and June 2024,” per WCSO.

Tracy Peckham's mugshot.(Wakulla County Sheriff's Office)

Detectives began investigating Peckham in late 2024 after getting a tip about possible mismanagement of funds by a co-plenary guardian of the victim, according to law enforcement.

“The investigation revealed the victim’s personal financial accounts were used by Peckham for personal gain and not in the victim’s best interest, as required under the guardianship,” according to authorities. “Funds were used for services and accounts solely associated with Peckham.” 

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Woman arrested, accused of defrauding disabled adult in Wakulla County 

Mesa assisted living owners permanently barred after abuse settlement

The former owners of a Mesa assisted living center have been barred from caring for vulnerable adults in Arizona, the state attorney general's office announced.

By Brian Petersheim Jr.

MESA, AZ (AZFamily) — The owners of a long-embattled Mesa assisted living facility are permanently barred from caring for vulnerable adults, following an abuse and neglect settlement on Wednesday.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office said the former Heritage Village Assisted Living, owned by Gary and Tracy Langendoen, didn’t do “the bare minimum” to make sure vulnerable adults in their care weren’t abused or neglected.

“This agreement ends strongly-contested claims without any admission of wrongdoing,” said Jennifer Wassermann, of Davis Miles, PLLC, attorneys for the defendants. “Regardless of the Attorney General’s self-serving statements in her press release on this topic, the health and safety of the employees and residents at Heritage Village have always been a high priority to the defendants”.

“We have always disputed the validity of the Attorney General’s claims, particularly after some of the assertions stated in their press releases were proven to be false based on incomplete and inaccurate information from the receiver’s office,” Gary Langendoen said. “Putting this litigation behind us allows these defendants, the dedicated employees and valued residents to move forward.”

Several residents had reportedly suffered violent attacks and sexual assaults by other residents, according to the attorney’s office. 

The Langendoens and any companies must divest from providing healthcare to vulnerable adults and pay $100,000 in civil penalties.

In 2024, Mayes asked the courts to step in and appoint someone to take over the facility rather than shut it down completely. It was the first time an attorney general has exercised that authority since the legislature added it to the Adult Protective Services Act in 1989.

“Although Heritage Village is gone forever, the facility itself is still going strong under new management,” said Attorney General Mayes. “My office has not received any consumer complaints about the former Heritage Village since the new owners took control.”

In early January, Mayes barred another East Valley assisted living facility from caring for adults for five years after a resident left the home and went unnoticed for 40 minutes before being found dead two days later.

Mayes asks anyone with information about elder care facilities endangering residents to contact her office. 

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Mesa assisted living owners permanently barred after abuse settlement 

Florida bill would require contract signing to be videotaped for adults over 60. Can it prevent financial abuse?

by Emma Caplan-Fisher

It’s a story that’s all too common these days: an elderly person gets roped into a sales contract they don’t fully understand and ends up paying far more than they thought they would.

Now, a Florida senator has proposed a bill designed to protect the state’s most vulnerable residents from the same thing happening to them.

Sen. Ileana Garcia’s “Elderly and Disabled Adult Contract Protection Act” was introduced on Jan. 13. It would require contracting parties to record a video that depicts them conducting a “comprehensive review” of contract terms with the elderly or disabled adult, as well as the signing of the contract — and store that recording for at least five years. The bill defines “elderly” as someone aged 60 and older.

The goal is to ensure older Americans fully understand what they’re agreeing to when purchasing a product or service, thereby reducing cases of financial exploitation, misleading sales tactics and pressured consent.

How helpful would it be?

The proposed legislation could fundamentally change how contracts are enforced and challenged when older residents claim to be misled.

“Out of the blue, I thought, what a great idea, so many agreements are signed under cover of dark,” attorney Charles Gallagher III told Tampa Bay 28 in a story that aired Jan. 8 (1). “The law in Florida doesn’t really help folks in that context. The law in Florida presumes if you signed the contract, you understand it.”

But even Gallagher, despite his initial excitement, has practical concerns. For example, the bill defines a contract as “any agreement that affects an individual’s legal rights or property, including documents conferring power of attorney or a deed instrument,” which may be interpreted broadly.

“In theory, every interaction between folks and contract parlance could be required to be recorded,” he said. “Lawn guy, pest control, you're buying a washer at the store, these are all written contracts. Do these all require a video?”

He also worried about operational impact, noting law firms, insurance companies, real estate agencies and many other Florida businesses could slow down their practices.

And, crucially, the bill might not prevent all exploitation. It only requires documentation of the process and by itself doesn’t provide the means to void contracts, ban predatory tactics or create a cooling-off period for seniors to reconsider.

What other states are doing

The proposed bill appears unique in requiring video-recorded contract reviews specifically for elderly protection. While all states have Adult Protective Services programs and elder abuse statutes, few have implemented preventive measures specifically targeting the contract-signing process itself.

According to SeniorSite's analysis of state elder abuse laws, 15 states mandate that all citizens report suspected elder abuse, while others limit reporting requirements to specific professionals (2).

Financial exploitation penalties vary dramatically. For example, North Carolina classifies financial exploitation above $100,000 as a Class F felony, while physical abuse resulting in serious injury is a Class G felony. On the other hand, Michigan has a four-tier system for physical elder abuse with penalties from misdemeanors to felonies requiring prison time of up to 15 years.

Americans aged 60 and up are among the most vulnerable to scams and exploitation. Even if the Florida bill doesn’t pass this legislative session, it signals growing recognition that existing contract laws don’t adequately protect vulnerable adults. Especially for those who might be living on fixed incomes, where a single bad financial decision can have irreversible consequences, the stakes couldn't be higher. 

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Florida bill would require contract signing to be videotaped for adults over 60. Can it prevent financial abuse? 

State dismisses cases against Caide Curry after father establishes guardianship in Missouri

The felony cases opened in Baxter County on 22-year-old Caide Curry who formerly lived in the Clarkridge area have been dismissed by the state after a guardianship was established for him in Missouri by his father, according to Missouri Case Net.

Curry was facing charges in Baxter County stemming from incidents that took place on April 5 and April 20 last year, including residential burglary, two counts of breaking or entering, two counts of theft of property and voyeurism.

While in jail in Baxter County, Curry picked up charges of 2nd degree escape and impairing the operations of a vital public facility. Those charges were filed after he tried to fight his way out of the Baxter County Detention Center April 20th last year.

His defense attorney Ben Burnett filed petitions for mental examinations to determine if Curry was fit to proceed and understands the criminal nature of his acts. Orders for those exams were issued April 24.

In the guardianship paperwork filed in the Missouri court, it was noted that Curry had been diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder with auditory, visual and sensory hallucinations.

He was also reported to have exhibited what was described as “generalized anxiety disorder.”

INITIAL EVENT

According to the probable cause affidavit, three calls were made to 911 in a 21-minute span on April 5 to report thefts in the Clarkridge area.

One of the victims reported he was holding a suspect who was later identified as Curry.

Curry had been released from jail on April 4 just before midnight in an unrelated case and was transported to his home along County Road 36 in the Clarkridge area by family members.

At some point after being returned home, and unbeknownst to his family, Curry took a number of items from their residence and left on foot.

Curry was reported to be living with his grandparents. His grandfather told investigators that Curry did not mental acuity to “understand that it is wrong to take other people’s belongings.”

The grandfather said he did not want to press charges related to items taken from his home. According to the probable cause affidavit, the property was all returned.

Curry is reported to have told investigators that he “did not take this stuff to get in trouble.”
A non-family victim reported his ATV missing along with a gun from his truck. When Curry was found, he was wearing the man’s red riding boots.

Another 911 caller reported she had run a male off at gunpoint after catching him looking into her window. She reported she watched Curry leave her property and walk down Baxter County Road 479 in the direction of State Highway 201 North.

Curry is also accused of breaking into a house and an unoccupied camper trailer. There was nothing reported stolen from the camper. The victim said the camper was used only for recreational purposes and was left unlocked.

JAIL FIGHT AND FLIGHT

On April 20, members of the jail staff were feeding the inmates breakfast. When an inmate receives the meal the electronic identification bracelet is scanned and a record is made of the activity.

When the jailers reached the isolation cell where Curry was being held, they had to open the door to scan the identification bracelet.

After the door was opened, Curry is reported to have attempted to “pry his way out of the cell.” The jailers attempted to get Curry back in his cell but he managed to squeeze past them and fled down the corridor and into an area under the dispatch tower.

He then fled into the booking area and attempted to vault over the counter. Jailers and other sheriff’s office personnel were eventually able to regain control of the inmate.

Curry was placed in a restraint chair while his cell was cleaned. 

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State dismisses cases against Caide Curry after father establishes guardianship in Missouri 

Daughter charged after bedridden father hospitalized with bone-exposing wounds, records say

The case centers on Misty McDaniel, who police said was the primary caretaker, along with her husband, of her father.

By Camruinn Morgan-Rumsey and Gray News staff

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT/Gray News) - A Knoxville woman is facing charges after her 74-year-old father arrived at the hospital covered in sores.

According to court records obtained by WVLT, the case centers on Misty McDaniel, who police said, along with her husband, were the primary caretakers of her father.

Court records say McDaniel’s father was admitted to Blount Memorial Hospital, which is where police originally responded.

The court records described several wounds the man had, saying he had sores that exposed muscle and bone. It was also reported that the man’s blood sugar levels were over 600.

Police decided to look into McDaniel and visited the home where she, her husband and her father live. There, the records said officers found a month’s supply of blood sugar medication. According to records, the medication had not been administered to the father.

McDaniel was taken into custody and charged with aggravated neglect of an elderly adult. 

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Daughter charged after bedridden father hospitalized with bone-exposing wounds, records say 

FBI probe of Detroit probate court could lead to indictment

by Nathalie Eder

Federal investigators are zeroing in on a bribery and corruption probe involving 36th District Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin and the disappearance of $550,000 from a 91-year-old woman, with a federal indictment expected soon in the sweeping investigation of Metro Detroit’s probate court system.

Missing funds fuel federal investigation

Court officials are working to determine how $550,000 belonging to a 91-year-old mentally incapacitated woman went missing while her finances were being handled through probate proceedings, according to court filings referenced by investigators. The disappearance of the funds has become a central focus of a federal investigation into how assets belonging to vulnerable adults are managed within Metro Detroit’s probate court system.

As the inquiry has progressed, federal and probate court records show investigators have broadened their review beyond the single case. Filings describe concerns involving “drained bank accounts” and “valuable assets belonging to wards of the court,” prompting a closer examination of financial records tied to guardianship and conservatorship arrangements. Officials have described the matter as a rare federal corruption probe involving local court operations.

Broader probate system under scrutiny

The federal probe has drawn increased attention to Metro Detroit’s probate court system, which oversees guardianships and conservatorships for mentally incapacitated individuals. These courts are responsible for managing the care and financial affairs of some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.

Andrea Bradley-Baskin, who currently serves as a judge on Detroit’s 36th District Court, is among what court filings describe as “a cast of people under investigation” connected to the probe. No charges have been filed, and the filings do not specify who, if anyone, will ultimately be indicted. Bradley-Baskin has not publicly responded to the investigation.

Federal corruption probes involving local court operations are uncommon. The case involves a federal bribery investigation, a type of inquiry that carries significant consequences when it intersects with the judicial system.

Pattern of financial irregularities

Court records show investigators are reviewing financial activity connected to multiple wards of the probate court, as part of a broader examination into how assets have been handled within the system. Reporting on the investigation indicates that records involving the sale of at least five homes owned by incapacitated individuals, along with assets belonging to other wards of the court, have become part of the FBI’s review of probate estate management.

Probate courts typically oversee such funds through appointed guardians or conservators, who are legally required to manage assets carefully, transparently, and in the ward’s best interests.

Federal resources deployed

The investigation has involved significant federal law enforcement resources, including the FBI, which has executed sealed search warrants and seized financial records as part of the inquiry. Court filings show those warrants authorized agents to collect documents related to the care and finances of probate court wards, as well as records detailing the receipt and distribution of funds tied to court-supervised assets.

As part of that process, investigators have seized more than $580,000 from properties and accounts connected to guardianship firms and individuals under review. The warrants also allowed agents to obtain records that could identify associates and trace financial transactions connected to the management of ward assets.

Public corruption cases of this kind typically involve extensive financial analysis and long-running evidence reviews. Federal prosecutors generally rely on detailed records, rather than public statements, as they work toward potential charges.

Community impact and trust issues

The investigation has put renewed focus on the probate court system, which many families across Metro Detroit rely on when elderly or incapacitated relatives can no longer manage their own affairs. In such situations, the courts appoint guardians or conservators, and they are expected to oversee how finances and personal decisions are handled.

When allegations involve missing or mismanaged funds, it raises questions about accountability in a system designed to protect vulnerable people. Court-supervised assets are often meant to pay for basic needs, including housing, medical care, and everyday expenses, leaving little margin for error when oversight breaks down.

Federal involvement in cases like this is unusual, and it has drawn attention to how safeguards within the probate system function in practice. For families who depend on those protections, maintaining trust in the process is critical.

Legal and administrative consequences

If federal charges are filed, it would mark a major step in the investigation. Public corruption cases at the federal level can carry serious penalties, and when they involve judges or court officials, they can trigger additional scrutiny beyond the criminal case itself.

In Michigan, judges fall under the authority of the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, an independent body that investigates allegations of judicial misconduct and can recommend disciplinary action to the Michigan Supreme Court. Actions can range from admonishment to suspension or removal and are handled separately from any federal prosecution, though no disciplinary action has been announced in connection with this investigation.

Next steps in the federal case

Federal prosecutors have not said whether charges will be filed, but court records show the investigation has been underway for months and is now entering a phase where charging decisions are typically made. Allegations and financial activity reviewed by investigators span several years, with records dating back to at least 2016.

Any decision to bring charges would come only after prosecutors complete their review of the evidence gathered during the investigation. In federal public corruption cases, charging decisions are often made after lengthy analysis of financial records and related documentation, so the timeline is unknown. 

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FBI probe of Detroit probate court could lead to indictment 

UnitedHealth faces renewed probe into nursing home practices

U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren have requested additional information from UnitedHealth Group (UNH) as part of an investigation into allegations that the health insurer, in a bid to cut expenses, secretly paid incentives to nursing homes.

In August, Wyden and Warren, members of the Senate Finance Committee, launched the inquiry after The Guardian reported that the company paid thousands of dollars in bonuses to nursing homes to reduce hospital transfers of sick residents, putting their health at risk.

In a letter to UnitedHealth's (UNH) new CEO Stephen Hemsley on Wednesday, the Senators noted that, according to new reporting from the publication on Dec. 17, at least three nursing home residents had died as the Minnesota-based managed care giant denied or delayed them care.

Arguing that the company's responses to their prior inquiries were inadequate and citing the new allegations, the duo gave Hemsley until Jan. 28 to provide further details on the matters they previously raised.

“As new reporting alleges shocking harms resulting from the policies in question, we expect you to meet the urgency of our inquiry,” the Senators wrote. 

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UnitedHealth faces renewed probe into nursing home practices 

2 arrested for targeting elderly people in distraction thefts: Burbank PD

By Karla Rendon

Two people accused of targeting elderly pedestrians in a distraction theft scheme were arrested after they stole jewelry from them, according to the Burbank Police Department.

Larixon Oinescu, 30, and Maria Grigore, 28, were arrested on suspicion of felony elder abuse after police responded to reported distraction thefts.

The department said officers were called to the 100 block of East Verdugo Avenue on Jan. 11 after an 81-year-old man reported that a man and woman “used deceptive tactics to steal his gold necklace.”

Two days later, they were called to the 2300 block of West Clark Avenue for a report of a man and woman who were approaching elderly people and stealing their jewelry by using distraction techniques.

Officers then located the two individuals, who were positively identified as Oinescu and Grigore by witnesses and victims of the thefts. In addition to elder abuse, the suspects face charges that include forgery, fraud and embezzlement.

It’s unclear if either suspect has an attorney who can speak on their behalf. 

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2 arrested for targeting elderly people in distraction thefts: Burbank PD 

Woman Accused of Conning Elderly Santa Barbara Scientist Out of Her Home, Cars, and $3 Million in Assets

Inna Vladimirovna Cook Faces Eight Felony Counts of Theft, Fraud, and Money Laundering

By Tyler Hayden

Inna Vladimirovna Cook, left, and Jane Doe in November 2022 | Credit: Courtesy

For many years, Jane Doe lived an accomplished yet solitary life. A brilliant research scientist, she received a medal in 1969 for helping put a man on the moon and in 1974 moved to Santa Barbara to pursue a career in defense technology. She held senior positions that required high-level government clearances, most recently at Applied Research Associates in Goleta, and worked long hours, even into her eighties. “We never knew exactly what she did, but we knew she was a workaholic,” said Doe’s sister, Gayle Aruta. 

The other focus of Doe’s life was serving on the board of the homeowner association that manages her condominium complex off Modoc Road. She was an active member for two decades and took pride in making the small community a pleasant place to live. So, when Doe suffered a perforated bowel in 2022 that required a long stay in Cottage Hospital’s ICU, a fellow boardmember ― 61-year-old Russian national Inna Vladimirovna Cook, who also shared Doe’s love of cats and houseplants ― offered to help her get back on her feet.

Eighteen months later, on February 5, 2025, Santa Barbara authorities raided the home that Doe and Cook shared and discovered Doe, hungry and thirsty, lying under a deflated air mattress. “They found her alone essentially starving, eating only oranges and tomatoes, which are both high in potassium, which damaged her kidneys,” court documents state. Officials soon discovered Doe had recently signed possession of her condo, cars, cash, and investments ― assets worth more than $3 million ― over to Cook.

Police arrested Cook and prosecutors charged her with eight felony counts of elder abuse, theft, and money laundering. At a court hearing later this month, she will likely face additional charges and enhancements. Cook, currently out on bail, has pleaded not guilty and could not be reached for comment. Her attorney declined to discuss the case. Cook has also been hit with a civil lawsuit filed by Doe’s family that seeks substantial damages. As a victim, Doe asked that her identity remain private.

From the moment they met, Aruta had a bad feeling about Cook. “I realized within seconds of meeting her that there is something wrong with this woman,” Aruta said of their first encounter after Doe was discharged from the hospital and getting settled back home. “I did not like her,” she said. “But my sister said she was a friend, so I gave it grace.”

Aruta accused Cook of “worming” her way into Doe’s mind when she was sick and weak, slowly but surely cutting her off from the few people in her life and taking control of her finances. Doe, 84 years old, was always a shy and submissive person, Aruta said, and her convalescence made her even more vulnerable. “She was a sitting duck,” Aruta said. “A perfect mark.”

The “brainwashing” process was gradual, Aruta alleged, but the warning signs started early. It began with Doe canceling plans more than once with Aruta, who then started receiving odd emails from Doe that she suspected were written by Cook. Aruta, who lives in San Diego, became so worried that she called for a wellness check on her sister, but when the police knocked on her door, Doe said she was fine.

After that, Aruta received an angry email, supposedly written by Doe, telling Aruta to stay out of her life. “My sister is especially nonconfrontational, and that email was very confrontational,” Aruta said. Over the next few months, Aruta and Doe’s neighbors called in six more welfare checks, but each time authorities responded they couldn’t find sufficient reason to act. 

“The police need probable cause to break down a door ― a body, an injury, a call for help ― and social workers can’t enter a home without the police,” Aruta explained. “That’s why this took so long. Cook was so good at walking that line of evading probable cause.” Aruta wondered though, if seven calls for a single individual, especially if that person is ill and elderly, should prompt more aggressive action. “The synergy of all those calls should be met with a heightened response,” she said.

Then, Doe disappeared. Aruta drove north and found her condo empty. She filed a missing person report, put up flyers, and inquired at the coroner’s office, but learned nothing. It was only when Cook was arrested for DUI after crashing into a tree on Las Positas Road that detectives discovered she had moved Doe to another property that she had purchased with Doe’s money, and which was dead-bolted from the inside. That’s where they found Doe “drugged, malnourished, and suffering other health issues,” the lawsuit states.

Authorities discovered a dehydrated and malnourished Jane Doe under a deflated air mattress | Credit: Courtesy

Just 48 hours after being rescued, “my sister said it was like her mind had been cleared of a fog,” Aruta said. “She knows what that woman did to her,” calling Cook a “predator” and “a lying liar who loves to lie.” This Christmas, Doe sent a letter to an investigator that thanked him for saving her life. She now lives in an assisted living facility at a location Aruta would rather keep confidential because the family is still scared of Cook, who also owns property in Naples, Florida. “We don’t know how far her tentacles reach,” Aruta said. 

Doe’s family has since recovered some of her assets, but are still fighting for $1 million in investments and cash that remains missing, $150,000 of which Cook allegedly spent on gold, lingerie, and large Amazon orders. She also accrued more than $600,000 in tax penalties and interest from the sudden liquidation of Doe’s stock holdings. “We want justice, which means incarceration and restitution,” Aruta said. Officials have put a lis pendens on Cook’s Calle de los Amigos home, which prevents her from selling it.

The silver lining to the otherwise awful experience is that Doe, once isolated in her work, is now meeting new people, making friends, and reconnecting with family. A couple of men have also shown interest. “She’s safe now,” Aruta said. “She has new stories to tell, and that’s healthy.”

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Brian Cota, who specializes in white-collar and elder abuse crimes, and who frequently secures stiff prison sentences for offenders. The next hearing is January 26 in Santa Barbara Superior Court.

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Woman Accused of Conning Elderly Santa Barbara Scientist Out of Her Home, Cars, and $3 Million in Assets 

Elder fraud scam: N.J. man gets prison for stealing gold, cash from Lehigh County senior

By Pamela Sroka-Holzmann 

A New Jersey man was sentenced up to three years in state prison for stealing more than $500,000 in gold and about $91,000 in cash from a 74-year-old man.

On Friday afternoon, Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas M. Caffrey sentenced 25-year-old Hirtik Hemchand Khatri of Lawrence Township, Mercer County, to serve 11 months, 29 days to 36 months in prison for two counts felony theft charges.

Additionally, he will serve two years of probation for a one count felony criminal use of a communication facility charge. Khatri was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim of $688,372.

Khatri pleaded guilty to the charges on Nov. 20. Court records show two other felony theft counts and a felony receiving stolen property charge were withdrawn as part of a plea arrangement.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced the sentencing Friday afternoon. Philadelphia-based attorney Zak Taylor Goldstein, representing Khatri, told lehighvalleylive.com his client is “very remorseful” in playing a role in the scam.

“The evidence ultimately showed that he (Khatri) responded to an ad to work as a courier, and he received a very small payment for making pickups and deliveries,” Goldstein said. “He did not understand the nature of the scam. He should have known better, so he pleaded guilty to accept responsibility for his limited role, and he is very sorry for his involvement and hopes that the complainant’s money can be recovered by the federal government or other law enforcement.”

Whitehall Township police were contacted by the 74-year-old victim on Feb. 3, 2025. The victim reported a lengthy scam that started with an email about a fraudulent PayPal charge.

Prosecutors said the victim was told he was responsible for the error and had to go to a Bitcoin kiosk to repay PayPal. The scam continued with numerous calls, each with variations on the theme that an error had been made and the victim had to repay the error with cryptocurrency, gold or cash.

The victim was told if he didn’t make the payments, he would be put in jail, officials said.

The victim withdrew funds from his IRA and purchased more than 200 gold bars, worth nearly $600,000, which Khatri picked up at the victim’s home.

Police were able to identify Khatri by using a license plate reader to find the Mercedes-Benz he was driving when he picked up the gold. The victim identified Khatri from a photo lineup, police said.

The Lehigh County Elder Abuse Task Force said it has seen a growing number of fraudulent scams. Older residents are more susceptible to fraud because they often have more savings and may be less familiar with new technologies like PayPal and Bitcoin, officials say.

Authorities are warning the public to be suspicious of anyone who contacts them by phone and asks for a large sum of money in any form.

“Anyone who asks for large amounts of funds, especially in methods like cryptocurrency, precious metals, gift cards, and cash is almost certainly part of a scam,” police said.

The case was investigated by Whitehall Township Police Detective Lindsay Yetter; the Lehigh County Elder Abuse Task Force; Homeland Security Investigations in Allentown and Trenton; Homeland Security Investigation Agent Sean Crawford; and Lawrence Township (NJ) Police.

It was prosecuted by Lehigh County Chief Deputy District Attorney Ramma R. Mineo. 

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Elder fraud scam: N.J. man gets prison for stealing gold, cash from Lehigh County senior 

How to Prevent Aging Parents and Relatives From Making Financial Mistakes

Getting family members to listen to you when you think they are headed down a dangerous financial path can be difficult. But there are preventive steps you can take.

In 2024, Rianka Dorsainvil’s mother came to her with a check that looked legitimate. It turned out to be part of a common check fraud scam.Credit...Jason Andrew for The New York Times

By Paulette Perhach

Jilenne Gunther’s uncle noticed her 91-year-old grandfather never seemed to have as much cash as he should in his wallet. A banker with access to the cash dye packs used to catch bank robbers, her uncle put one in a wallet in their home. When the money went missing, a trusted home care worker had the dye on her coat.

The experience inspired Ms. Gunther to dedicate her life to protecting elders from financial fraud, and she is now the director of the BankSafe Initiative at AARP.

Americans over 70 control $53 trillion in wealth, and they are the prime targets for scams. Their adult children are often the first people to notice when something seems amiss, but when elders are the victims of misdeeds, family dynamics can make it difficult to change their behavior. Experts say it takes empathy, due diligence and sometimes outside help.

It’s not just money that’s at stake, Ms. Gunther added: Financial exploitation can cause anxiety, depression, a higher risk of heart attacks and even suicide.

Ms. Gunther said older adults might require the help of grown children and trusted friends to see their financial lives more clearly.

“There’s a relationship between age and financially unsound decision-making,” Ms. Gunther said. “It follows this U-curve. Younger people and older people are more prone to making mistakes.”

A Range of Dangers

One of the most insidious situations can involve someone’s trusting a relative who doesn’t have his or her best interest at heart. Or it could be as simple as an investment that’s not appropriate for the elder’s stage of life, Ms. Gunther said.

“They know this is high-risk, but might not be disclosing that,” she said. “And so it’s really important to really slow down and think about things.”

Cybercrime against elders is skyrocketing. In 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 150,000 complaints of cyber-enabled fraud against people 60 or older, with almost $5 billion in losses, according to the agency’s annual report. The victims lost an average of $83,000.

Scams can come from investment opportunities, impostors pretending to be the Internal Revenue Service or an online romance.

When you hear something that sounds off, you might react in the moment without thinking, but that would be a mistake, Ms. Gunther said. You want to lead with empathy.

“Coming right out and saying something like, ‘You’ve been scammed’ or ‘This is a horrible decision’ — those are things that are not going to open up the conversation,” she said. “So before writing off their decision as risky or bad, it’s important to do your own research and also to ask questions like, ‘What interests you about this investment? What are you hoping to achieve?’”

Free tools can help with your research. Any company that claims to be publicly traded in the United States should show up on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System. A financial adviser’s employment history, registrations and regulatory actions are available at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s free BrokerCheck tool. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides a searchable database of complaints about financial products and services. For companies, the Better Business Bureau lists complaints and ratings.

For anyone claiming to have a professional designation, check with the entity that provides that license to confirm that the person has it.

When asking who should be involved in a conversation about fraud, consider which family members talk regularly with the person in question.

“People can also leverage family trust in these types of situations,” Ms. Gunther said, adding that adult children who have maintained open dialogues with their parents are better positioned to influence financial decisions.

Looking for Red Flags

In 2024, Rianka Dorsainvil’s mother came to her with a check that looked legitimate. All she had to do was deposit it and then send a money order for a lower amount to a third party, and then she’d be able to keep the difference. It’s a common check fraud scam.

“I was like: ‘Mom, this is not true. This isn’t real,’” said Ms. Dorsainvil, the founder and senior wealth adviser at YGC Wealth. “These scammers are becoming so sophisticated in their tactics.”

People can now be scammed by clicking on a quiz on social media, signing up for a game or responding to a Facebook message that appears to be from a relative, she said.

Ms. Dorsainvil recommends looking out for if a loved one mentions anything that seems too good to be true. Other red flags include pressure to act fast or guarantees of making money.

If you see something suspicious and want to talk to an elder in your life, Ms. Dorsainvil recommended bringing in a neutral third party so that it doesn’t seem like just your own judgment.

“What I share with my clients, especially when it comes to their parents, is: Blame it on me,” she said.

Ms. Dorsainvil recommended that you acknowledge what they’ve taught you about finances, and then add to that what you’ve learned from financial experts and, if possible, pass them along to someone who can advise them.

“Approach it in an educational manner versus ‘I know more than you now,’” she said, “and I think they will appreciate that.”

Peter Lichtenberg, a former director of the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University in Detroit, said financial missteps could be a sign of a deeper issue.

Peter Lichtenberg, a former director of the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University in Detroit, said some people discovered dementia in their parents because their parents were losing money.Credit...Nic Antaya for The New York Times

“What we’ve found from some of our focus groups over the years is maybe about one out of every five people discover dementia in their parents because their parents are losing money,” he said. Usually, it takes the form of not remembering that they gave to a cause and sending money again, or falling prey to phone scams.

Signs that dementia may be involved include recent health problems that required hospitalization, increased falls, missed appointments or the repeating of things, like telling the same joke twice in an hour.

This concern adds a second dimension of stigma to the equation, but Dr. Lichtenberg suggested a two-part process for approaching the conversation.

First, take an inventory of your family. How taboo has money been? What are the privacy boundaries around it? How open is your relative to your input about his or her personal life?

Second, he said, “think of it as maybe a series of conversations, because one of the mistakes that people make is they think: OK, well, I’ll just show the person that they’re involved in a scam, and then they’ll logically realize, ‘I guess I have to give that up.’

“But that’s not, of course, what happens,” he added. “And so you’re really in a negotiation.”

Part of negotiation, he said, is a deep understanding of why the situation may be important to the older person. Don’t chide or correct, but instead ask questions in a respectful manner.

“You have to keep that anxiety at bay and that fear and really take it one step at a time as you progress in these conversations,” Dr. Lichtenberg said. “Talk about what the F.B.I. has learned — that older adults are being targeted more and more.”

You may suggest that your relative get a cognitive test during an annual wellness check. Make sure you work with a physician who specializes in older adults with dementia.

The condition can add severity to the financial dangers, Ms. Gunther said.

“We’re seeing with people that are being diagnosed with dementia, they’re losing half their wealth in the years leading up to the diagnosis,” she said, adding that the cause is usually from poor financial decision making or fraud.

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How to Protect Your Elders From Fraud

Get ahead of fraud with preventive conversations. Share data on the rise of fraud and ask if they would like help being protected. Letting them take the lead with independence will make it a smoother road.

Ask about protective account options. Some financial institutions offer transaction alerts, daily withdrawal limits or review for unusual transfers. Ask if your parents would add you as a trusted contact on their accounts so their bank, credit union or investment firm can contact you if it suspects fraud.

Ease into account monitoring. Discuss options such as view-only access or subscribe to an account-monitoring service such as EverSafe, which alerts both the account holders and a trusted contact to unusual activity.

Pass along the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline. At 877-908-3360, experts offer tips to avoid scams, help with identifying a possible scam and support for victims. They are also open to helping relatives concerned about an elder in their life.

Help them freeze their credit. To prevent new accounts from being opened in their name, your loved ones can freeze his or her credit for free. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion offer this free service, which can be temporarily lifted if credit is legitimately needed. 

Full Article & Source:
How to Prevent Aging Parents and Relatives From Making Financial Mistakes 

Missing Person Found: Guardian's Duties to Family?

Q:  In 2004, I had to report my mom missing in the state of Florida, where we lived at the time. I never stopped looking for her. She was added to the NAMUS database in 2009. This is the National Missing Persons database and website for missing or endangered persons for the entire United States. At the end of 2024, I received a call from the detective on my mom’s case. They had located her. She was in Massachusetts under court-ordered guardianship and had an ID with her Florida address. Because the facility she was placed in applied for her Social Security on her behalf to pay the guardian and privately owned facility, what rights did I or my mother have to be able to see each other, as her health was failing? Also, does a guardian have a legal obligation to make the courts aware that my mom had a family that wanted to be involved and loved her? After my mom's death, which was in August of this past year, the guardian told the facility to throw all her personal belongings away. That was after I asked for the things I had sent my mom and her personal belongings. 

A: Finding your mother after 20 years, only to face legal barriers and the loss of her personal items, is an incredibly heavy burden to carry.

The situation you’re describing touches on guardianship law, which varies by state but generally follows specific ethical and legal standards. Below is a breakdown of the rights and obligations involved in a case like this, specifically focused on Massachusetts and Florida law.

1. Did the Guardian Have a Duty to Find You?

Yes, generally. In both Massachusetts and Florida, a guardian has a legal and ethical obligation to act in the “best interest” of the protected person (the ward).

• Due Diligence: When a court appoints a guardian, they are supposed to perform a search for “interested parties” (heirs and close family). If your mother had an ID with her Florida address and a Social Security number, a basic background check or a diligent search should have revealed her identity and her status as a missing person.

• Reporting to the Court: Guardians are required to file periodic reports. If a guardian becomes aware that family members exist, they are legally obligated to disclose that to the probate court. Intentionally withholding that information to maintain total control is often considered a breach of fiduciary duty.

2. Your Right to Visitation

Until recently, many guardians had “gatekeeper” power to block family visits. However, laws have changed significantly to prevent “guardian isolation.”

• The Right to Association: Most states now recognize that a person under guardianship retains the right to see their family unless a judge specifically rules that the visit would be physically or emotionally harmful.

• Notice of Health Changes: In many jurisdictions, guardians are legally required to notify immediate family if the ward is hospitalized, moves to a new facility, or passes away.

3. The Disposal of Personal Belongings

When a person under guardianship passes away, the guardian’s authority usually ends and the case moves into probate law.

• Preserving the Estate: A guardian generally does not have the right to throw away a deceased person’s property, especially if they know a grieving family member wants those items. Those items belong to your mother’s estate.

• Potential Liability: If the guardian destroyed property after you explicitly asked for it, they may be liable for conversion (the legal term for unauthorized taking or destruction of property) or breach of duty.

Summary of Potential Legal Violations

Issue	Potential Legal Standing
Failure to Search	Possible breach of fiduciary duty for not identifying interested parties
Isolation	Violation of your mother’s right to association/visitation
Property Destruction	Potential liability for destruction of estate assets and personal effects

 

Recommended Next Steps

Because your mother was a missing person for two decades and was essentially found’ by the state without you being notified, there may be a case for gross negligence or violation of civil rights.

1. Request the Court Records: Contact the probate and family court in the Massachusetts county where your mother lived. Request the full case file for her guardianship. Look for the petitions to see what the guardian told the judge about her “unknown” family.

2. Consult a probate litigator: You need an attorney who specializes in contested guardianships or probate litigation in Massachusetts. They can determine if the guardian lied to the court or failed to perform a mandatory search.

3. File a Complaint: You can file a formal grievance against the guardian through the Massachusetts Office of Adult Guardianship or the court that oversaw her case.

Contact the detective: Keep the records from the detective who finally located her. This documentation proves she was in a national database (NAMUS) that the guardian or facility failed to check. 

Full Article & Source:
Missing Person Found: Guardian's Duties to Family? 

States Decline To Drop Lawsuit Threatening Disability Rights Protections

by Michelle Diament

As federal officials look to clarify recent rules designed to bar disability discrimination in health care, a long-simmering lawsuit threatens to invalidate them altogether.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wants to alter a 2024 update to regulations related to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The rule, finalized by the Biden administration, prohibits health care providers from making treatment decisions based on biases about disabilities and mandates increased availability of accessible medical equipment, among other changes.

HHS is seeking to tweak the regulations to specify that gender dysphoria does not qualify as a disability under the rule. The agency said it is responding to “significant confusion” created by language in the rule’s preamble that prompted a lawsuit from Texas and 16 other states.

“By fixing the incorrect language in the preamble, the department is ensuing that no one incorrectly relies on the mistaken interpretation to their detriment,” the proposal states.

HHS issued a notice last April indicating that the preamble language related to gender dysphoria was unenforceable. The latest proposed rule, which is up for public comment through Jan. 20, is an effort to further cement its position.

Several disability rights groups have denounced the Trump administration’s effort to invalidate the preamble language as discriminatory against transgender people.

“The preamble to that rule correctly notes that restrictions that prevent, limit, or interfere with otherwise qualified individuals’ access to care due to their gender dysphoria, gender dysphoria diagnosis, or perception of gender dysphoria, may violate Section 504,” reads a statement from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, the Center for Public Representation, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Justice in Aging and the National Health Law Program.

Moreover, advocates are concerned that Texas and the other states have not dropped their lawsuit, which could upend the Section 504 regulations as a whole.

“Until the states dismiss their lawsuit, it continues to be a threat to the 2024 update to the Section 504 regulations since their complaint seeks to enjoin the entirety of the regulations,” said Alison Barkoff, a professor at George Washington University who led HHS’ Administration on Community Living under the Biden administration.

The states’ lawsuit generated significant backlash last year because in addition to the gender dysphoria concerns, it sought to completely invalidate Section 504. The states ultimately backed off the broader constitutional claim about the legality of Section 504 and the lawsuit has been paused for months.

In a status report to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas last week, the states requested that the case remain paused while HHS considers the proposed rule.

Meanwhile, advocates say that the litigation continues to cloud the disability protections provided by the updated regulations.

“Even though the lawsuit is on pause, ultimately, until the attorneys general who filed the suit drop it, the lawsuit remains a threat to disability rights,” said Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities. “The states continue to challenge the entire updated Section 504 regulations. The updated regulations include things like the right to receive services in the community instead of institutions, preventing discrimination in medical care organ transplantation, and in the child welfare system, as well as requiring accessible medical equipment and effective communication.”

In addition to Texas, the other states involved in the lawsuit are Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

At this point, Town notes, “each of the 17 attorneys general who filed the lawsuit remain a part of it.” 

Full Article & Source:
States Decline To Drop Lawsuit Threatening Disability Rights Protections

Elder abuse leads to guilty pleas for husband, daughter in death of Bonnie Nightingale, 71

By Jen Samuel

WEST CHESTER — The tragic end of one woman’s life still led to minimal sentences imposed upon her daughter and husband in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas in an elder abuse case prosecuted by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

Richard Nightingale, 78, and daughter, Kaci Nightingale, 40, will each serve one-week in prison.

Bonnie Marie Nightingale was found dead on a mattress placed on the floor inside her West Sadsbury home on July 20, 2021. Her cause of death was ruled cerebral infarction due to atherosclerosis. Other conditions of death included severe malnutrition, severe dehydration, decubitus ulcers and coronary atherosclerosis.

A certification of death provided by the Chester County Coroner’s Office on Jan. 15 still listed her manner of death as “undetermined.” She’d suffered from dementia for nearly a decade.

Christina VandePol was the Chester County coroner in 2021 when she reported the death of Bonnie Nightingale, 71, to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office due to concern for abuse. The case was then referred to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

Charges were filed against Bonnie’s husband and daughter on July 7, 2023, after years of investigation. Richard and Kaci were charged with neglect of care of a dependent person, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault, and aggravated assault.

Further, Kaci was employed by a home health service provider as a personal care assistant and received monetary compensation for this employment, according to the criminal complaint. Bonnie was last seen by a doctor in 2015.

A trial began on Oct. 30 and lasted three days until Richard Nightingale and Kaci Nightingale reached an open plea agreement with the state just prior to the jury rendering verdicts. Both pleaded guilty to neglect of a care-dependent person. As such, several other charges were dropped. The maximum sentence is seven years for neglect of a care-dependent person.

Kaci also pleaded guilty to a fraud-related charge of provider-prohibited acts for accepting money for care services she didn’t provide her mother toward the end of her life.

Judge Bret Binder presided over the case and issued the sentencing on Jan. 14.

Due to a prior criminal history involving burglary in Philadelphia two decades ago, Binder sentenced Richard to 9-18 months in prison with electronic home confinement applying after one week and five years probation.

Due to not having a criminal record, Kaci was sentenced twice, on the fraud and neglect charges, to serve one week to nine months in prison, followed by five years of probation, and she can serve her sentences concurrently. It was clear as the courtroom neared adjournment that both were expected to serve only one week in prison each, respectfully, with Kaci reporting to begin her sentence on Feb.1 and returning home Feb. 7, and Richard reporting to serve his sentence in prison for one-week on Feb. 9, followed by home confinement with a cost to the family of $15 per day.

‘Letting her die’

VandePol was in attendance at the Chester County Justice Center for the sentencing proceedings.

“It was shocking that neither Bonnie’s husband or her daughter expressed remorse about what had happened. I’m pleased both will serve some prison time, though not enough, in my opinion. I hope this outcome encourages other prosecutors to vigorously pursue elder neglect and abuse cases,” VandePol said on Wednesday.

“I attended Bonnie Nightingale’s autopsy,” she said. “What I saw sickened me: she weighed only 83 lbs. and had bed sores so deep you could see the bone. Even the way she was found when we retrieved her body — lying naked on a mattress on the floor — was horrifying. It was unbelievable that in 10 years Bonnie had never received medical care, and that her family had never bothered to get help, instead just letting her die like that.

“Elder abuse is a complex, multi-system problem,” VandePol said. “It won’t be solved with one prosecution or legislative action, but our legislators could make a start by amending the Pennsylvania Coroner Statute to require nursing homes, assisted living, and personal care homes to report all deaths, regardless of cause, to their county coroner.”

She said this abuse can and does happen in both private homes and care facilities.

“Abuse of older adults and adults with disabilities is not uncommon, just invisible,” VandePol said.

Elder abuse on the rise

According to an annual report by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, between July 2023 and June 2024, there were 58,614 reports of elder abuse statewide, increased by 9%. The investigations conducted led to 14,302 substantiated cases.

There were 41,221 investigations launched; only 70% of all reports were investigated. The report said 32% of these abuse allegations stem from financial exploitation.

Notably, 46% of abusers were family members, the most common perpetrators, followed by caregivers, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s report.

In the Nightingale case, Kaci was both a daughter and a caregiver.

Before sentencing, attorney Benjamin McKenna for the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General said this case wasn’t about providing “perfect care” but that no one ever called for help to treat Bonnie’s suffering.

He asked Binder to impose a sentence that recognizes that her suffering was not necessary and “honors the dignity that all care-dependent people deserve across this Commonwealth.”

“Toward the end of her life, she suffered immensely,” McKenna said.

Today, Richard lives with his daughter Kaci, his daughter Erin, and his grandchildren.

“Thank you, your honor, for giving me a chance to move on and be with my family,” Richard said before sentencing. He did not mention his wife.

“This case is particularly difficult from a sentencing perspective, given the level of harm she endured and the lack of intent to harm,” Binder said. Still, the disregard for her care could not be overlooked.

‘They need and deserve excellent care’

Barbara Croyle is a senior living advisor of Aging Confident in Landenberg.

Home care is helping with bathing, dressing, food prep, transportation, and companionship, she said. In contrast, home health care is nursing care and medication giving.

There are now 63 million family caregivers providing home health care in 2025, Croyle said.

She said 95% of boomers want to “age-in-place” when asked. “That assumes a lot of things that they will need to have: good health, caregiver support, which can cost a lot depending on how often it is needed, a home environment that supports aging, technology that supports aging,” Croyle said.

“Elder abuse is not uncommon,” Croyle said. It can be physical, mental, emotional, and financial. “It can be something that is committed or something that is omitted.”

Nursing home facilities are licensed agencies. Suspected neglect can be reported to the Area Agency on Aging in every county, Croyle said. “The best protection for loved ones in a nursing home comes from regular visits from family or friends. Also, there is a way to compare nursing homes online via Medicare Compare, which rates nursing homes,” she noted.

Home care can typically cost $30 to $40 per hour. It used to be $20 to $35 an hour. Nursing homes typically cost $12,000 each month, she added.

“Everything has gone up due to increased costs of staff, supplies, and insurance,” Croyle said on Thursday.

“I work with older adults because they need and deserve excellent care and support,” she said. “I want to help provide for them, what I hope will be provided for me as I continue to age.”

Court, state resources

Pennsylvania has the fifth largest number of older adults, with 3.4 million people 60 or older. One-in-four Pennsylvanians is 60 or older. By 2030, that number will increase to one-in-three people, according to a state official.

In the Commonwealth, 400,000 people depend on homecare assistance where they live, according to the Pennsylvania Homecare Association. There are 2.4 million unpaid family caregivers across the state.

To report signs of abuse, call the Chester County Department of Aging at 800-564-7000 or the District Attorney’s office.

The statewide Elder Abuse Helpline is 1-800-490-8505. This confidential line is open 24-7, 365 days a year.

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging front desk phone number is 717-783-1550. For information, visit www.pa.gov/aging.

The Pennsylvania Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman phone number is 717-783-8975. The statewide team of Ombudsmen looks out for our nursing home residents and their quality of life.

The PA Link phone number is 1-800-753-8827, which provides person-centered counselors to help individuals with disabilities and seniors find information that will connect them to supports and services in their community. 

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Elder abuse leads to guilty pleas for husband, daughter in death of Bonnie Nightingale, 71