Detroit judge among four charged with exploiting vulnerable adults

By Elyse Apel

(The Center Square) – Four Michiganders, including a sitting judge, have been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with embezzlement-related charges.

All four are residents of Detroit and allegedly conspired to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from incapacitated individuals.

United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. made the announcement recently, which U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi applauded over the weekend.

“No one is above the law – judges included,” Bondi said. “Using the power of the bench to allegedly take advantage of vulnerable people is a particularly vile crime. Thank you to our great prosecutors in Eastern Michigan.”

Nancy Williams, Avery Bradley, Andrea Bradley-Baskin and Dwight Rashad were all charged in a federal indictment. The indictment came as part of an investigation by the FBI and the IRS.  

Full Article & Source:
Detroit judge among four charged with exploiting vulnerable adults 

See Also:
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Detroit judge, 3 others charged in alleged scheme to steal thousands from vulnerable and incapacitated people

Press Release: Sitting Judge and Three Others Charged with Scheme to Steal Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from Vulnerable and Incapacitated Wards 

Detroit News: Detroit Judge Teamed With 2 Criminals to Help Buy And Sell Homes of the Vulnerable

FBI probe of Detroit probate court could lead to indictment

Omaha woman sentenced in financial exploitation of vulnerable adult case

by Jake Anderson

OMAHA, Neb. —  An Omaha woman accused of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult was convicted and sentenced in the case.

Andrea Heim was found guilty of misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking, according to court documents.

She was sentenced to 18 months of probation in the case. As part of a plea agreement, an abuse of a vulnerable adult charge was dismissed, court documents state.

Heim and Patrick Thornton, a couple who lived together, were "assigned caretakers" who received the adult into their home in March 2025.

Although the couple received a monthly stipend of $755 to offset the adult's room and board costs, investigators reported finding bank records totaling over $2,500 in unauthorized purchases on the adult's personal debit card. 

Full Article & Source:
Omaha woman sentenced in financial exploitation of vulnerable adult case

More Iowa care homes cited for violations related to disabled residents’ money

State: Residents’ debit cards and gift cards used for ‘fraudulent’ purchases

By: Clark Kauffman

Mosaic-East 42nd Street, a Des Moines care facility for people with intellectual disabilities. (Photo via Google Earth)

Three more Iowa care facilities for people with disabilities are accused by state regulators of violations related to the alleged misuse of residents’ money.

In recent weeks, a total of four Iowa care facilities that serve intellectually disabled individuals have been cited for violations related to the alleged misuse of residents’ money or assets.

In the most recent case, state inspectors allege that in January 2026, the staff at Mosaic-East 42^nd Street, a Des Moines care facility for people with intellectual disabilities, initiated an investigation that showed one resident’s money was being spent on household goods and grocery items that should have been provided by the facility itself.

As an example, inspectors alleged the resident’s debit-card receipts from Dollar General documented the purchase of $29 worth of toilet paper, as well as $57 spent on trash bags, wall hooks and other items. In addition, a step stool, batteries, carpet deodorizer, cake mixes, frosting, cereal and other grocery items were purchased using the same resident’s debit card, and those purchases totaled just under $93.

The resident’s service agreement with Mosaic states it is not the responsibility of the resident to purchase food or household supplies for the facility, inspectors allege.

In speaking to state inspectors, the home’s direct support supervisor reportedly acknowledged that none of the household goods or groceries should have been purchased using the resident’s debit card and instead should have been purchased using Mosaic’s money.

The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing cited the home for nine regulatory violations related to an alleged failure to report allegations or abuse, failure to properly report the results of investigation, and failure to separate an accused abuser and their victims.

According to the inspectors’ report, the home’s internal investigation of January 2026 indicated a direct support supervisor working for Mosaic had “potentially misused” clients’ money in 2024 and 2025. The home’s investigation “lacked any action taken against the alleged perpetrator,” inspectors reported.

When asked about that, the manager allegedly explained to inspectors that the alleged perpetrator — presumably the direct support supervisor — was suspended for three weeks, at which point the home concluded any allegations of abuse were unfounded and so the facility let the individual return to work.

DIAL fined the facility $325, according to state records.

Patrick Costigan, Mosaic’s vice president of service line management, said Tuesday the “safety and well-being of those we support is our top priority” and that the company took “immediate action” in response to reports of resident funds being misused.

“Following a comprehensive internal investigation by Mosaic and an external investigation by Iowa Health and Human Services, the allegation was found to be unsubstantiated. Both investigations concluded that the claim was not supported by evidence. While we respect the process required to ensure transparency, we are pleased to put this matter behind us and return our full focus to providing high-quality support to individuals with developmental disabilities in our community.”

Door Dash meals, groceries purchased

It’s not the first time the Mosaic-42nd Street facility has been cited by the state for violations related to the alleged misuse of clients’ money.

In 2025, state inspectors reported that an employee of the home was reported to have used a female resident’s debit card throughout January 2025 to purchase food “for the house” through Door Dash.

Inspectors documented nine instances over four weeks in which the woman’s debit card was used to pay for Door Dash meals, with the cost of each meal ranging from $10.24 to $130.72.

When inspectors looked into the matter in March 2025, they reported that the resident’s debit card had been funded with an infusion of only $30 per month, and that the card, which the facility had custody of, could no longer be located.

Another Des Moines care facility for intellectually disabled people that’s operated by Mosaic was cited recently for similar violations.

Mosaic-Easton, which is located on Des Moines’ Easton Boulevard, was cited earlier this month for failing to properly report all allegations of abuse and exploitation. In that case, a direct support supervisor potentially misused client funds in 2024 and 2025, and the home allegedly failed to ensure it had completed a full accounting of the personal funds of all seven residents.

Inspectors allege the home’s investigations coordinator reviewed one client’s purchase history and found several instances in which household goods, cooking supplies and grocery items were purchased. The home’s direct support supervisor reportedly acknowledged to inspectors that none of the household goods or groceries should have been purchased using the resident’s debit card.

As with the East 42^nd Street home, the Easton facility’s manager of traditional services allegedly stated the matter wasn’t reported to regulators since there was not “a specific victim” in the case.

The alleged perpetrator in both the East 42nd Street and Easton Boulevard homes may be the same individual, as the state inspectors in each of the two cases were reportedly told that Mosaic had concluded the allegations of abuse were unfounded and so the individual was allowed to return to work.

Walmart and McDonald’s gift cards fraudulently used

In December 2025, the state alleged that the staff at one of REM Iowa’s care facilities for people with intellectual disabilities, located on 33^rd Avenue in Cedar Rapids, failed to protect residents from abuse through financial exploitation.

The inspectors cited an incident in September 2025 in which a resident’s Walmart gift card was “spent fraudulently” and no receipts for the purchases could be found. In addition, inspectors said, four McDonald’s gift cards belonging to a separate resident were spent fraudulently in July and September of 2025.

Separately, inspectors cited the Walton Group Home in Burlington for failing to obtain written consent to use the money of “an unknown number” of current and former residents when purchasing items to furnish the residential care facility over the past nine years.

State officials say that as of December 2025, the disabled residents of the home had not been reimbursed for their losses, and the home’s owners say no criminal referral has been made in the matter. The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing has fined the home $500.

According to the recent findings of DIAL’s health-facility inspectors, a worker at the 12-bed care facility reported to DIAL in July 2025 that a table inside an office at the home, used only by the facility’s staff, had been purchased with a particular resident’s money. The worker then showed a DIAL inspector an enclosed tub and shower in a bathroom that was attached to the office of the former administrator.

“Behind a closed shower curtain was a 4- to 5-foot high pile of appliances and kitchen items, including a vacuum cleaner, two sets of pans, two sets of dishes, four of silverware, plastic drinking cups, 40 piece storage containers, an electric griddle, a stock pot with lid, four baking sheets and 16 plastic bowls,” inspectors reported.

The worker reported that she believed all of the items had been purchased with residents’ funds.

Inspectors then reviewed records showing that in April 2024, an employee had submitted paperwork asking one resident’s guardian or payee to add $1,750 to that resident’s debit so the money could be spent on “home decor.” A receipt from a local furniture store showed that two dressers were then purchased for $950, as well as a dining table for $470.

A subsequent review of expense receipts associated with one resident’s finances revealed that individual’s money was used to purchase bottled water, mini bowls, tumblers, baking pans, a vacuum cleaner and a griddle. In December 2025, inspectors interviewed that resident’s guardian, who stated she had not authorized any of the purchases and “felt betrayed by the actions of the former administrators to the point she considered moving her ward from the facility,” inspectors reported.

Although Walton Group Home has implemented new practices to prevent any additional misuse of residents’ money, inspectors reported in December 2025 that the home “had not taken any steps to reimburse residents for the funds which were used to purchase items without their guardian’s written authorization.”

The administrator of the home explained that she “did not know where they would start to determine the extent of the misappropriation,” inspectors reported.

According to Theresa Magnussen, the regional executive director for Walton Group Home’s owner and operator, Imagine The Possibilities Inc., the matter has not been referred to authorities for any sort of criminal investigation.

She also declined to comment on the state’s allegations and said the state’s published report of its findings speaks for itself. 

Full Article & Source:
More Iowa care homes cited for violations related to disabled residents’ money 

Is “The Bad Guardian ”Based on a True Story? What to Know About the Real-Life Accounts of Guardianship Abuse That Inspired the Movie

by Emily Blackwood

Melissa Joan Hart in 'Bad Guardian'.
Credit: Netflix

NEED TO KNOW

• In 2024, Melissa Joan Hart and La La Anthony starred in the Lifetime thriller The Bad Guardian

• The film followed Leigh, played by Hart, as she fought to free her elderly father from a court-appointed guardian, Janet (Anthony)

• Though the story is fiction, The Bad Guardian's creator said it was inspired by real-life accounts of guardianship abuse that "really happens"

The Bad Guardian chronicles the nightmare of one woman's fight to free her father from his greedy court-appointed guardian — a tale that's all too real for many people.

In the 2024 Lifetime thriller, Melissa Joan Hart stars as Leigh, a woman whose father (Eric Pierpoint) is appointed a court-ordered guardian after he falls while she's out of town.

Though the aide, Janet (La La Anthony), appears to be helpful at first, "things quickly take a terrible turn" and she "doesn’t waste any time placing him in a nursing home, auctioning off his house, all worldly possessions, and using the excuse that the proceeds are needed for his care," per the official synopsis.

Though guardianships and conservatorships have come under scrutiny in recent years due to high-profile cases involving Wendy Williams and Britney Spears, executive producer Elizabeth Stephen has said The Bad Guardian isn’t based on a single story. Instead, the film draws from numerous real-life accounts of alleged abuse within a system meant to protect vulnerable people.

So, is The Bad Guardian based on a true story? Here’s everything to know about the real-life accounts that inspired the movie — and how its stars say it compares to the conservatorship battles that have dominated headlines.

Is The Bad Guardian based on a true story?

Eric Pierpoint in 'Bad Guardian'.
Credit: Netflix

No, The Bad Guardian isn't based on one specific true story. However, the film's executive producer drew inspiration from real-life accounts of abusive guardianships that she learned about through news coverage and by speaking with people from organizations fighting to protect vulnerable seniors from abuse.

“Every single turn of events is true," Stephens told Tampa Bay 28 in May 2024. "It's all real ... this is the stuff that really happens ... they get into the system, and then, as you know, it's almost impossible to get out.”

She continued, "It's just shocking. Anybody that I watched the film with, they all talk back to the screen, and they look at me and say, 'No, this couldn't happen. No.' "

The movie's director, Claudia Myers, echoed a similar sentiment to Storius Magazine in June 2024, noting that "everything that happens in the film is something that victims of guardianship abuse have experienced."

What is guardianship abuse?

La La Anthony, Melissa Joan Hart, and Luis Bordonada in 'Bad Guardian'.
Credit: Netflix

The U.S. Department of Justice defines guardianship abuse as neglect or the financial, physical, emotional or psychological mistreatment of an older person or a person with a disability. Guardians who take advantage of people in their care can include family members, professional guardians, agencies and even non-profits.

Diane Dimond, a journalist and author of We’re Here to Help – When Guardianship Goes Wrong, wrote in a press release shared with PEOPLE in March 2024 that "some 2 million Americans" are under a guardian or conservatorship — and that 98% of people placed into this kind of care "never get out."

She added that there are "zero federal laws to regulate the guardianship/conservatorship system."

Is The Bad Guardian inspired by Wendy Williams and Britney Spears?

Wendy Williams on August 29, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia ; Britney Spears on July 22, 2019 in Hollywood, California.
Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty ; Steve Granitz/WireImage

No, The Bad Guardian is not inspired by Williams' or Spears' cases. In fact, Hart even said that the movie is the "opposite" of the "Hit Me, Baby One More Time" singer's widely publicized legal battle.

“I was aware of the Britney Spears situation but that seemed very different,” Hart explained in a May 2024 interview with TV Insider. “That was her own father coming in and putting her in a conservatorship, and then her trying to break out of that and the whole Free Britney thing."

She continued, "It was almost like the opposite of this story in a sense. That’s the only kind of understanding I had of a guardianship before the movie.”

What has Melissa Joan Hart said about The Bad Guardian?

Melissa Joan Hart attends the premiere of the live-action "How To Train Your Dragon" on June 7, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Credit: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty

In her TV Insider interview, Hart said that The Bad Guardian story "seemed unbelievable" to her until she learned more about the "$2.9 billion business" of guardianships. She added that it's especially devastating for families like her character's, who don't have the money to “fight the big fight against the corruption that happens in a lot of these cases."

"Someone can move in and take over a family member and take over everything from their medical decisions to their bank accounts to their home, their property, everything," the actress continued. "I really like the idea of shedding light on this and maybe helping people find some information to find a way out of it.”

Though Hart believes that "there's a place for guardianships," she maintained that "anywhere there’s a lot of money, there’s power and greed and corruption."

Full Article & Source:
Is “The Bad Guardian ”Based on a True Story? What to Know About the Real-Life Accounts of Guardianship Abuse That Inspired the Movie 

Charleston man accused of defrauding elderly couple of $48K, records say

by STAFF REPORTS

Records say 49-year-old Preston Tyrell Hugle is accused of defrauding an elderly couple. (WVDCR)

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) — A Kanawha County man accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from an elderly couple was arrested Monday, deputies said.

Preston Tyrell Hugle, 49, of Charleston has been charged with three counts of fraud and related activity in connection with an access device, credit card fraud, computer fraud, identity theft, burglary, petit larceny, grand larceny and financial exploitation of an elderly person, protected person or incapacitated adult, according to jail records.

In August 2025, detectives began investigating a fraudulent bank account, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

The complaint said transactions and transfers took $48,000 from an elderly couple.

According to investigators, video from a neighbor’s doorbell camera appears to show Hugle tampering the victims’ mailbox around the time a fraudulent debit card was activated.

Records said a review of surveillance footage appears to show Hugle using a stolen credit card at multiple businesses in Charleston.

Hugle is awaiting court proceedings inside South Central Regional Jail. 

Full Article & Source:
Charleston man accused of defrauding elderly couple of $48K, records say 

St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System Settlement Ends Class Action Over Feb. 2024 Data Breach

by Tracy Bagdonas 

St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit that alleged the senior and elder care services provider failed to protect the sensitive information of its current and former employees and patients from a February 2024 data breach.

The St. Andrew’s class action settlement received preliminary approval from the court on January 21, 2026 and covers all living individuals in the United States who received notice, including notice of this settlement, informing them that their private information may have been impacted by the February 2024 data breach.

Court documents estimate that the private information of approximately 12,304 living individuals was potentially impacted by the breach.

The court-approved website for the St. Andrew’s data breach settlement can be found at StAndrewsDataSettlement.com.

According to the website, St. Andrew’s settlement class members who file a timely, valid claim form have multiple options for reimbursement.

Class members who submit with their claim form documented proof of out-of-pocket losses stemming from the data breach are eligible to receive a one-time cash payment of up to $5,000.

The settlement agreement states that class members must submit documentation prepared by a third party to receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket losses but may not receive compensation for expenses that have already been reimbursed by another source, including the credit monitoring and identity theft protection offered by St. Andrew’s as part of the data breach notice.

Class members may also receive reimbursement for up to four hours of lost time spent responding to the data breach, at a rate of $20 per hour, subject to the $5,000 out-of-pocket losses cap.

In lieu of these benefits, St. Andrew’s settlement class members may instead file a claim form with no proof or explanation required to receive a one-time alternative cash payment of $50.

Class members may receive their payout via check or credit monitoring, the agreement notes, and all checks must be cashed within 90 days of issuance before expiration.

In addition to any monetary benefits, all St. Andrew’s settlement class members may also file a claim to receive an enrollment code for two free years of CyEx Medical Shield Complete, which includes one-bureau credit monitoring, per the agreement.

To file a St. Andrew’s data breach claim form online, class members can head to this page and log in using the unique ID and PIN found on their received copy of the settlement notice. Alternatively, class members may download a PDF of the claim form from the site to print, fill out and return by mail to the settlement administrator.

All St. Andrew’s settlement claim forms must be submitted online or by mail by May 21, 2026.

Finally, St. Andrew’s has agreed to make certain changes to its information security practices; all enhancements will be funded separately from other settlement benefits, court documents state.

The court will determine whether to grant final approval to the St. Andrew’s data breach settlement following a hearing on June 8, 2026. Compensation will begin to be distributed to class members only after final approval has been granted and any appeals are resolved.

The St. Andrew’s class action lawsuit alleged that the Missouri-based elder care organization failed to implement reasonable cybersecurity measures to protect the patient and employee information stored on its systems, which led to a data breach starting on or around February 8, 2024. According to the settlement site, private information that may have been compromised during the breach includes current and former patient and employee names, addresses, Social Security numbers, driver’s license and state identification numbers, passport numbers, military identification numbers, financial account information, payment card information, health insurance information and medical information.

Full Article & Source:
St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System Settlement Ends Class Action Over Feb. 2024 Data Breach 

‘Hidden and misunderstood’: national plan to tackle elder abuse

By Karl Hoerr 

The Federal government launches a 10-year plan to prevent, respond to and eliminate the abuse of older people in Australia. According to the government, one-on-six older Australians has been abused by someone they trust, typically a family member.

Announcing the National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People 2026-2036, Attorney General Michelle Rowland and Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae said older people experiencing abuse or mistreatment often don’t seek help, “as this form of abuse and family violence is often hidden and misunderstood”.

The government says it is committing additional funding to specialist services, including lawyers and social workers.

“Every older Australian has the right to live free from abuse, mistreatment, and neglect,” said Rowland. “At its core, the Plan is aimed at ensuring all Australians can grow older with their dignity and choices intact,” she said.

“The National Plan is the result of years of close and ongoing work with the states and territories to support older Australians as they age,” added Rae.

Age Discrimination Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM welcomed the Plan. “Elder abuse is prevalent and a growing national problem,” he said. “It is one of the clearest and most harmful expressions of ageism, with significant social, legal, and economic implications.”

Fitzgerald says the plan adopts a “human rights-based approach”, with the protection and promotion of people’s rights not only a “moral imperative” but also a “necessary pathway” to systemic change.

“Critically, the Plan includes the recognition of ageism as a driver of abuse, the inclusion of targeted initiatives to address and end ageism, as well as a new focus on recovery and healing for older people who have experienced abuse.”

Full Article & Source:
‘Hidden and misunderstood’: national plan to tackle elder abuse

Paralyzed Veterans of America Issues Statement Following VA-DOJ Agreement Allowing Guardianship Proceedings for Veterans with Catastrophic Disabilities

News provided by

Paralyzed Veterans of America
Mar 13, 2026, 15:43 ET

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WASHINGTON, March 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Paralyzed Veterans of America Chief Executive Officer Carl Blake released the following statement in response to the newly announced memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) authorizing VA attorneys to serve as special assistant U.S. attorneys and to initiate guardianship or conservatorship proceedings for veterans who lack family or legal representation.

"Paralyzed Veterans of America, a congressionally chartered nonprofit veterans service organization and a leader in advocating for the civil rights and community integration of catastrophically disabled veterans and all people with disabilities, is concerned about the implications of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Justice. The MOU, announced this week, authorizes VA attorneys to serve as special assistant U.S. attorneys and to initiate guardianship or conservatorship proceedings for veterans who lack family or legal representation.

While we recognize the VA's obligation to ensure safe and timely transitions of care for veterans who are unable to make health care decisions, this policy elevates a legal tool—court-ordered guardianship and conservatorship—that can result in unnecessary institutionalization and the loss of fundamental rights. Guardianship can severely –or permanently—restrict an individual's autonomy, civil liberties, and access to community-based supports. Consequently, the MOU raises several specific questions about due process, transparency, and legal safeguards that must be addressed:

• How has VA been addressing the needs of veterans who lack capacity who are currently receiving care from VA?
• Will veterans have access to independent legal counsel paid for by the VA when needed?
• Will VA and DOJ commit to transparency, including public reporting and independent oversight, to ensure just treatment of veterans?

Veterans who have served our country deserve care that honors their dignity, preserves their rights, and supports their ability to live in the community with appropriate services. VA must carefully consider any broad use of guardianship as a care-planning shortcut and adopt policies with robust safeguards."

About Paralyzed Veterans of America
Paralyzed Veterans of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and the only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated solely for the benefit and representation of veterans with spinal cord injury or diseases. The organization ensures veterans receive the benefits earned through service to our nation; monitors their care in VA spinal cord injury units; and funds research and education in the search for a cure and improved care for individuals with paralysis.

As a life-long partner and advocate for veterans and all people with disabilities, PVA also develops training and career services, works to ensure accessibility in public buildings and spaces, and provides health and rehabilitation opportunities through sports and recreation. With more than 70 offices and 33 chapters, Paralyzed Veterans of America serves veterans, their families, and their caregivers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Learn more at PVA.org.

Contact: Kristina Packard 
(703) 282-8121 cell
KristinaP@PVA.org

SOURCE Paralyzed Veterans of America 

Full Article & Source:
Paralyzed Veterans of America Issues Statement Following VA-DOJ Agreement Allowing Guardianship Proceedings for Veterans with Catastrophic Disabilities 

See Also:
V.A. Begins Drive to Put Homeless Veterans Into Guardianship 

Farrah Fawcett's Son Redmond Making Progress in Recovery, Conservator Says

 Redmond O'Neal has been drug-free and a model patient for five years at Patton State Hospital, according to his conservator.

Farrah Fawcett's son, Redmond O'Neal, is making great strides in his recovery from drug addiction, his conservator Mela Murphy says. Redmond has been drug-free and a model patient for five years at Patton State Hospital, where he has found proper mental health support and is participating in 12-step recovery. Murphy says Redmond has overcome many challenges in his life and that Fawcett would be proud of his progress.

Why it matters

Redmond O'Neal has long struggled with drug addiction and legal troubles, including arrests for drug possession and an alleged armed robbery crime spree. His recovery journey highlights the importance of mental health support and treatment for those battling substance abuse issues.

The details

According to his conservator Mela Murphy, Redmond has been drug-free and a model patient at Patton State Hospital for the past five years. He is participating in 12-step recovery, helping other patients, reading daily, and has found a spiritual life. Murphy says Redmond's past drug problems were a result of not having proper mental health support earlier in his life, but that the medication and treatment he is receiving at Patton State Hospital are now working well for him.

• Redmond O'Neal has been drug-free and a model patient at Patton State Hospital for the past five years.
• In May 2018, Redmond was arrested for an alleged armed robbery and held without bail following a multiday crime spree.
• Redmond was initially ruled incompetent to stand trial, but a 2025 reversal meant he would face the charges in court.

The players

Redmond O'Neal

Farrah Fawcett's son who has long struggled with drug addiction and legal troubles, but is now making progress in his recovery at Patton State Hospital.

Mela Murphy

Redmond O'Neal's godmother and conservator, who says he has been drug-free and a model patient for the past five years.

Farrah Fawcett

Actress and mother of Redmond O'Neal, who passed away in 2009 after a battle with anal cancer.

Ryan O'Neal

Redmond O'Neal's father, who also passed away in December 2023.

What they’re saying

“Redmond has been drug-free and a model patient for five years now at Patton State Hospital. He has had to overcome so much in his life. We are proud of him, and Farrah would be too. He finally got a proper mental health diagnosis and medication.”

— Mela Murphy, Redmond O'Neal's godmother and conservator

“I believe his serious drug problems in the past were a result of not having mental health support in his earlier life. Today, he is participating in 12-step recovery, helps out patients, reads every day and has found a spiritual life. There are many friends and supporters of Redmond who are in contact with him and are so proud of his journey to recovery.”

— Mela Murphy, Redmond O'Neal's godmother and conservator

What’s next

The judge in Redmond O'Neal's 2018 armed robbery case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him to be released on bail after his three-year hospitalization at Patton State Hospital. 

Full Article & Source:
Farrah Fawcett's Son Redmond Making Progress in Recovery, Conservator Says 

Kentucky bill would increase penalties for financial exploitation of seniors

A Kentucky state representative is sponsoring legislation that would strengthen protections for older adults against financial abuse, increasing penalties for those who exploit senior citizens. 

State Rep. Matt Lockett of Nicholasville is behind House Bill 794, which prioritizes protection for Kentuckians — especially older adults — from financial exploitation. 

Source:
Kentucky bill would increase penalties for financial exploitation of seniors 

Operator of unlicensed Roswell care home charged with elder exploitation, police say

by Dan Raby

Roswell police say a search for a missing elderly man ended with an unlicensed personal care home shut down and its operator arrested.

Investigators say 58-year-old Deborah Callaway is now facing two counts of elder exploitation, two counts of elder trafficking, financial transaction card fraud, theft by taking, and third-degree forgery.

According to officials, the investigation began in January after a man was reported missing from a home on the 1000 block of Worthington Hills Drive. The man was found safe at an Atlanta shelter, and police say they learned in the process that Callaway was using the address as a senior care home, which she was not licensed to do.

Authorities say that 10 adults lived in the home with Callaway, many of whom slept in converted living rooms, dining rooms, and a backyard shed.

"Beyond the living conditions, evidence also revealed that Callaway was exploiting the resident's financial resources for her own personal gain," the police department said in a statement.

Authorities say that 10 elderly adults lived in the home with Callaway, many of whom slept in converted living rooms, dining rooms, and a backyard shed. Roswell Police Department

On March 11, the Roswell Police Department executed a search warrant at the home and arrested Calloway. Officials say the residents received medical evaluations and were moved to safe housing.

"What began as a routine missing person call evolved into a major protective operation, fundamentally improving the lives of ten vulnerable adults because our officers refused to ignore the red flags they saw on scene," said Chief of Police James Conroy. "This case is a powerful reminder that public safety is a team effort. We are incredibly grateful to our partner agencies for helping us ensure these seniors are now in a safe environment where they can receive the care they deserve."

Investigators are asking anyone with information that could help with the case to call the Roswell Police Department at (770) 640-4100 or Crime Stoppers Atlanta at (404) 577-8477. 

Full Article & Source:
Operator of unlicensed Roswell care home charged with elder exploitation, police say

 

Missouri bill targets abuse in nursing homes with tougher penalties, more transparency

Supporters of the bill said it could help families get compensation and closure — and hold facilities accountable — for abuse or neglect of older Missourians. Opponents said insurance requirements could push small providers out of business

By: Steph Quinn

Republican Sen. Adam Schnelting of St. Charles describes his bill targeting nursing home abuse and neglect as a "way to foster a culture of life in our state." He sponsored similar bills in 2024 and 2025, but this is the first year the legislation has gotten a hearing (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

The first warning sign that all was not well with Miranda Malone’s mom was that she had lost a lot of weight.

It was June 2020, and Malone, of St. Charles County, hadn’t been able to visit the nursing home where her mom was receiving care for Parkinson’s disease since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Malone told The Independent she discussed upping her mom’s protein intake with the nurses, but her mom only got thinner and developed a bedsore.

Three months later Malone got a worried call from a nurse who wasn’t part of her mom’s usual care team. Her mom had been screaming in pain, and her bedsore, the nurse said, was “the most extreme she’d ever seen.”

By the time Malone got her mom to an appointment with a specialist, her infection had gotten so bad that “you could see her spine.” When she was checked into an ER that November, she was severely malnourished. An MRI showed the infection had spread to her bones.

Given the choice between a feeding tube and hospice care, Malone’s mom chose hospice care. She died on Dec. 4, 2020.

“The only answer that I have gotten…is, ‘During COVID, we were short-staffed,” Malone said. “That’s not good enough for me. I’m sorry. That’s just not good enough.”

Missouri lawmakers are considering legislation aiming to increase accountability and transparency around elder abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities. A Senate committee debated the bill last week.

Sponsored by Republican state Sen. Adam Schnelting of St. Charles, the legislation would increase penalties for abuse or neglect of an elderly person and require long-term care facilities to maintain liability insurance policies worth at least $1 million.

Schnelting, who sponsored similar proposals in 2024 and 2025, said the bill would help families get closure and compensation for abuse and neglect of loved ones.

“When someone gets hurt or their loved one gets hurt, facilities shouldn’t be able to say, ‘Well, you’re out of luck. I don’t have any insurance,” Schnelting said.

Schnelting recalled being “enraged” as he struggled “trying to get answers [and] trying to find resolution” after his mother died in a facility. 

She was getting rehabilitative care after a stroke, Schnelting said, and suffered head injuries in the facility. She had a second stroke and died after going into a vegetative state.

“It looked like someone had punched her multiple times in the face,” Schnelting said.

Nursing home residents in Missouri receive the fewest daily hours of care by licensed nurses in the U.S. — only 1.14 hours per day — according to data released by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid last month. They received an average of 3.37 hours of nursing care daily in March 2025. In 2023, AARP ranked Missouri’s long-term care facilities 47th for safety and quality and 38th overall. U.S. News and World Report ranks Missouri 50th in nursing home quality. 

Schnelting’s bill would also require the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services to display a symbol on its website identifying facilities with abuse or neglect findings substantiated by the department, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid or law enforcement. In addition to displaying the symbol, the department would have to provide a summary of the incident for three years after the most recent confirmed finding. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid already marks nursing homes with recent abuse citations with an icon. 

Dr. Jana Opperman-Bendt, who switched careers to establish a small long-term care facility, said this provision would help families searching for a safe place for their loved ones, “when they are already overwhelmed and vulnerable themselves.”

Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for AARP Missouri, said the bill would enable families to find reliable information about facilities when they are no longer able to care for loved ones themselves.

“Being able to have transparency to look directly at what has happened in facilities and make an informed decision is so vitally important to the caregivers of our state,” Hardenbrook said.

The bill would also make abuse or neglect by a caregiver in a long-term care facility a class E felony. Elder abuse or neglect is currently a class A misdemeanor for anyone.

Opponents of the bill argued that the liability insurance requirement could drive small and rural facilities out of business.

Nikki Strong, representing the Missouri Health Care Association, a nonprofit that represents long-term care facilities, said mandating liability insurance would cause premiums to “skyrocket.”

Tim Blattel, legislative chair for the Missouri Assisted Living Association and CEO of Twin Oaks Senior Living in Wentzville, said the insurance requirement would hurt family-owned operators and asked to work with Schnelting to compromise on the bill.

Blattel said his annual insurance premium increased from $73,000 to $230,000 in one year because St. Louis has been deemed a “litigious area.”

Brandon Koch, executive director of the Missouri Insurance Coalition, said that if the bill set the minimum threshold for liability insurance too high, “it could impact affordability and availability.”

But Opperman-Bendt said she was “appalled” when she learned that long-term care facilities are not required to carry liability insurance.

“Should something go wrong with any of these individuals that I care for, I want my families to have protection, and I want to be held accountable for what has taken place,” she said.

Malone underlined the importance for families of getting closure and answers about what happened to their loved ones.

“This bill will help families,” she said, “because when you try to go and fight to get accountability and get transparency, there are walls there.” 

Full Article & Source:
Missouri bill targets abuse in nursing homes with tougher penalties, more transparency 

Banks are becoming bulwarks against scams for vulnerable seniors

The first call came just before Thanksgiving last year. She didn't recognize the phone number, but she answered anyway.

"The person said he was an officer of the Department of Criminal Investigations looking into drug trafficking and money laundering," the woman recalled. He seemed to know a lot about her: the states where she and her late husband had lived; his name and occupation; and her current address in Washington County, Rhode Island.

On her phone, he showed her a convincing badge and a photo ID with his name ("'Frank' something"), plus an article describing the supposed investigation. The woman, a 76-year-old retiree, denied any involvement.

"You can hire a very expensive criminal defense attorney, or you can cooperate with me," Frank told her.

"Now, when you think about it, it doesn't make any sense," the woman acknowledged recently. But persuaded by the badge and ID, she agreed to cooperate. Otherwise, "I thought they were going to come and arrest me."

Frank called each morning to learn where she was going, what she was doing. His team would be watching, he warned. The woman, feeling "petrified," started looking around as she drove to garden club meetings. Was somebody following her?

It was all a scam.

Because victims' sense of shame often leaves them reluctant to report such crimes, the extent of elder financial exploitation is hard to calculate. The Federal Trade Commission reported losses of $2.4 billion in 2024, largely driven by investment and romance scams and impersonations, with total losses much higher.

Americans age 60 and older lose more than $28 billion annually to financial exploitation, AARP estimated in 2023.

As those numbers rise, because the population is aging and predators are growing increasingly resourceful, banks and investment firms are becoming the first line of defense.

Frank's initial target: her account at Fidelity Investments. He instructed her to shift about $250,000 into her checking account, telling the financial adviser at her local office that she and her family intended to buy real estate.

That scheme fizzled when the adviser said Fidelity could not approve the transaction without more information on the property.

So Frank sent her to her local branch of Washington Trust Company to take $70,000 in cash from a home-equity line of credit. "We don't give out that much in cash," the teller said, quietly messaging the branch manager, who had known the woman and her husband for years.

The manager ushered the woman into her office to talk, and the scam stopped there, with a call to the local police. The woman's assets remained intact, but the experience proved so mortifying that she has not told even her family how close she came to losing much of her life savings. The New York Times is withholding her name to spare her embarrassment.

"I felt so stupid," she said. "I felt like a fool."

Financial predators targeting older adults represent "a heightened focus for us now," said Mary Noons, president and chief operating officer of Washington Trust.

A regional community bank, Washington Trust cranked up its efforts last fall to advise older customers and their families about finances, including the dangers of elder fraud and exploitation. It published and distributed a booklet called "Age With Wisdom" and brought in an expert on dementia to speak with staff members.

And it became one of the 1,500 financial institutions to date to use BankSafe, a free AARP video program that trains front-line employees to spot the red flags indicating possible elder exploitation and to intervene. Everyone at the branch where the 76-year-old banked had taken the training.

"Some older customers visit their bank far more frequently than they see their health care providers," Noons pointed out.

Until recent years, financial institutions placed "more of an emphasis on the autonomy of the client," said Pamela Teaster, director of the Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology and an elder abuse researcher. Their approach was, "an adult has the capacity to make poor choices, and we're going to let them make them," she added.

But changes in government and industry policies and practices have encouraged greater vigilance. Congress passed the Senior Safe Act in 2018, protecting banks and financial firms from liability if they reported suspected exploitation to authorities.

That year, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority began requiring member firms to ask for a trusted contact person when investors open or update accounts. (The account holder isn't obliged to provide one, however.) And since 2022, it has allowed firms to place holds on older investors' transactions if they suspect exploitation is involved.

About half of states have enacted laws that permit financial institutions to deny suspicious transactions or impose holds for specified periods to allow investigations, said Jilenne Gunther, the director of BankSafe.

"It adds friction," she explained. "With space and time, the criminal gets worried and might move on. And the potential mark has time to stop and think."

Teaster's analysis of data from BankSafe, during a six-month pilot in 82 financial institutions, found that participants were much more likely to report suspected cases and save customers money than a control group was.

Not all of older adults' losses result from predators, however. They can, on their own, get caught up in investment fads, take on too much debt, or make otherwise unwise decisions, even without criminals pulling the strings or relatives looting their accounts.

Managing finances presents complex cognitive challenges, said Mark Lachs, co-chief of geriatrics and palliative medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. "It requires a lot of brain," he said, including: "Memory, remembering that a bill is due. Executive function, the ability to manage your time. Abstraction, hypothesizing about your future."

He added, "Financial errors are not infrequently the first sign of impending dementia or a neurocognitive disorder."

A 2024 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for instance, found an increased probability of delinquent payments and deteriorating credit ratings in the five years before a dementia diagnosis. Those errors can reduce seniors' access to credit and raise their interest rates on loans at the very point when caregiving expenses are likely to soar.

Lachs has called on fellow doctors to recognize what he calls Age-Associated Financial Vulnerability, a syndrome that can affect even older people with normal cognition, especially if they contend with medical illnesses, sensory deficits, or social isolation.

And he remains skeptical about the financial industry's claims of heightened attention to its oldest customers. "I still see concerning financial transactions executed that should have received far greater scrutiny," he said.

Training more front-line staff members and increasing emphasis on establishing trusted contacts for older customers would help, Gunther said, because "once the money leaves the account, it's near impossible to ever retrieve it." More states could enact laws allowing financial institutions to deny suspicious transactions or impose holds.

Several related bills with bipartisan support are working their way through Congress. The National Strategy for Combating Scams Act would require the FBI to coordinate efforts to protect seniors. A bill that restores an IRS deduction would at least provide the consolation of excusing scam victims from paying taxes on money they no longer have.

However, new weapons like artificial-intelligence voice cloning — in which the supposed grandson four states away who urgently needs $5,000 in gift cards actually sounds like the victim's grandson — keep advocates and bankers awake at night.

In the Washington Trust branch where the Rhode Island woman didn't lose her money, employees just days earlier had stopped a scam similar to the one that had targeted her.

But more recently, nobody spotted any danger signs when an older woman withdrew $9,000 for a kitchen renovation, until it went to a scammer instead of a contractor. 

Full Article & Source:
Banks are becoming bulwarks against scams for vulnerable seniors 

Boxing legend Tommy Hearns placed under guardianship and conservatorship

On Wednesday, Oakland County Chief Probate Judge Pro Tempore Daniel A. O’Brien appointed Ronald Hearns, Tommy’s oldest son, as the sole guardian and conservator for his father.
 

By: Heather Catallo

(WXYZ) — He’s a boxing legend and beloved in Detroit. But world champion Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns now finds himself in the middle of a new kind of fight: a guardianship court battle.

Different sides of his family have claimed the champion boxer was being kept from them, and Adult Protective Services (APS) officials testified in court that they are looking into whether he’s been the victim of financial exploitation and alleged kidnapping by some relatives.
 
On Wednesday, Oakland County Chief Probate Judge Pro Tempore Daniel A. O’Brien appointed Ronald Hearns, Tommy’s oldest son, as the sole guardian and conservator for his father.  That means Ronald Hearns has the power to make all the medical and financial decisions for his father.
 
Tommy Hearns spoke exclusively to the 7 Investigators about the court battle.

“I'm fine. I want the world to know that I'm doing fine. I feel good,” Hearns told 7 Investigator Heather Catallo.

Hearns says he wants the community to know he’s safe.

“I just want things to just be calm and good, and just move smoothly,” said Hearns.

“Mr. Hearns is revered in this community for all he's done, for all his giving back to the community, to the city of Detroit, to the boxing world,” said attorney Wolf Mueller.

Mueller represents Hearns’ oldest son, Ronald, and is the former chairman of the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission, the government commission that’s responsible for overseeing professional boxing and mixed martial arts in Michigan.

“So my job with the conservator and the court is to make sure that nobody takes advantage of him and he is treated with dignity and respect that he so richly deserves,” said Mueller. “I think there is a lot of evidence that he's been taking advantage of recently.”

“My dad is a great man, has a big heart, and for him to be going through this type of situation at this time in his life is terrible,” said Ronald Hearns.

Hearns started boxing at age 10, won six championship titles, and was the first boxer ever to win titles in five different weight classes. He was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012.

At an emergency guardianship hearing on February 23, only our cameras were there as Oakland County Chief Probate Judge Pro Tem Daniel O’Brien took testimony from APS workers who were searching for Hearns after they said his daughter and his sister would not reveal the location of the 67-year-old.

“I am ordering you to tell me where Thomas Hearns is,” Judge O’Brien told Natasha Barnes, one of Hearns’ daughters.
“Ok,” said Barnes.
“So, tell me where he is,” said the Judge.
“That’s why I would like to receive legal counsel, to explain the situation where my father is, and what to do from here,” said Barnes.
“I can hold you in contempt of court until you give that information up. That’s okay with you?” said Judge O’Brien.
“No, I do not want to be held in contempt of court,” said Barnes.
“Then tell us where your father is,” said Judge O’Brien.
“I don’t have my father sir,” said Barnes.

Hearns was not at the address that was eventually provided in court by Barnes’ mother. He was later turned over to other relatives at the Detroit Police 12th precinct.

APS officials also said they were suspicious after a GoFundMe online fundraiser was set up, allegedly by Hearns’ sister, Louise. She did not appear in court Wednesday.

“So, your impression is they were using Mr. Hearns as some kind of commercial advertiser,” asked Judge O’Brien.

“Correct,” said attorney Michael Dean, the Guardian Ad Litem temporarily appointed to explain a ward’s rights during a guardianship proceeding. “She set up a GoFundMe account as well for the care of Thomas Hearns, as well as stating in the Facebook post that anyone interested in promoting opportunities with Thomas Hearns was to contact her.”

By Wednesday morning, all sides of the family agreed to allow Ronald Hearns to be in charge of his father’s care and finances.

Citing a dementia diagnosis, Judge O’Brien appointed Ronald Hearns as guardian and conservator of Thomas Hearns.

“Everybody loves Mr. Hearns and wants the best for him. I'm assuming that, and I think that's probably true. So that's what everybody should be working for and not focusing on their past grievances,” said Judge O’Brien.

“Just keep praying for my dad and the family as we move forward in our lives,” said Ronald Hearns. “That's my main goal, to make sure that he's enjoying his life and nobody else can hurt him in any kind of way, financially, physically, or mentally.”

“Knowing that you've been loved and been thought about, it's a good feeling because people don't have to think about you or care anything about you at all. But when people do care about you, and they really do love you… " It's a good feeling for me,” said Tommy Hearns.

Unfortunately, Hearns’ home was lost to tax foreclosure recently. He is now living with his oldest son. Ronald asks that the community refrain from donating to any online fundraisers; he says they do not consider those legitimate.

“Thomas Hearns is a legend and an icon in this community. Everybody loves Thomas Hearns. He has dignity and respect. He wants his autonomy. And all of that should be respected so that he can continue to live as he wants to live and make sure that nobody is taking advantage of him,” said Mueller.

If you have a story for Heather Catallo, please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com 

Full Article & Source:
Boxing legend Tommy Hearns placed under guardianship and conservatorship 

Decatur police officer on leave after being charged with Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person

By Stephanie Obediku

DECATUR, Ala. (WAFF) - A Decatur police officer is now on administrative leave after he was arrested Monday night.

Officer Elijah Cole is charged with Theft-First Degree and Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person.

Cole’s arrest stems from an investigation into a December report alleging criminal activity by a DPD officer.

He has served for over four years with the department, in two separate periods of employment, as a patrol officer.

No further information is available as an internal investigation is underway.  

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Decatur police officer on leave after being charged with Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person 

V.A. Begins Drive to Put Homeless Veterans Into Guardianship

A joint effort with the Justice Department creates new authority to compel veterans into institutional or involuntary care. 

By Ellen Barry and Jason DeParle

The Trump administration on Wednesday announced a new effort to initiate legal guardianships for homeless veterans, which could be used to force more of them into involuntary or institutional care.

The new system, carried out in partnership with the Justice Department, will invest Veterans Affairs Department attorneys with expanded powers that would allow them to initiate and take part in guardianship proceedings for veterans who have no family and are “unable to make their own health care decisions.”

The initiative represents the Trump administration’s most concrete action to advance its goal of compelling more homeless people into involuntary treatment for mental illness and drug addiction.

President Trump identified the issue as a priority during the 2024 presidential campaign and promoted it last July in an executive order that called on agencies to use civil commitment to move homeless people into “long-term institutional settings.”

Critics say the policy shift raises significant civil liberties concerns, noting that in earlier generations, people with severe mental illness were routinely stripped of their legal rights and confined to state hospitals.

The V.A. says the guardianship initiative would affect “hundreds” of veterans who are currently in V.A. facilities but need “a legal decision maker” to transition to a new setting. Some are homeless, and others are “at risk of homelessness” upon discharge, the agency said in a press statement.

“Our new partnership with the Justice Department reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every veteran receives timely, appropriate care,” said Doug Collins, the V.A. secretary.

Guardianship powers are broader and longer lasting than civil commitment, which is used to compel someone to accept medical treatment.

Guardianship proceedings are typically initiated by family members, friends or health care providers, and are argued before state or probate judges, with the subject entitled to legal representation. If a court finds that the person is not able to make basic decisions about health and safety, a guardian is appointed.

Guardians can control a person’s assets, where the person lives and whom he or she sees. They can also require the person to accept medical treatment. Unlike civil commitment rulings, which expire after a specific time period, guardianships are intended to be durable, though they are revisited periodically and can be terminated or dissolved.

Michael Figlioli, the director of the National Veterans Service for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, commended the change, which he said recognizes “that some of our nation’s most vulnerable veterans must be approached through a public health and social services framework.”

If thoughtfully carried out, he said, guardianships could provide more “structured support” for vulnerable veterans, though he noted “important considerations regarding veterans’ privacy, potential implementation gaps and the need for sufficient resources.”

Rights advocates said they were alarmed by the proposal, which they saw as part of a drive by the administration to place homeless people in institutional settings against their will.

“My speculation is that they are seeking to have people placed under guardianship so they can have a person appointed who will force them into congregate or institutional settings when there isn’t anything else available,” said Jennifer Mathis, the deputy director of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.

If there are veterans “sitting in V.A. hospitals” unable to be discharged, as the V.A. says, she said, it is “almost certainly” because there are long waits for intensive community services or independent housing. She added that it is highly unusual for the Justice Department to take a role in guardianship proceedings, which are governed by state laws.

“I don’t know what their authority is,” Ms. Mathis said. The federal government, she added, “has very little to do with guardianship.”

Stephen Eide, who studies homelessness at the Manhattan Institute, welcomed the Trump administration’s efforts to expand guardianship, which he said could protect people at risk of “slow-motion suicide.”

“More use of involuntary treatment is essential to solving street homelessness,” he said.

But he cautioned that successful implementation could be challenging, since it requires coordinated efforts among police officers, social workers, clinicians and lawyers, often employed by different levels of government. “It’s hard to change big systems,” he said.

A pilot project to expand guardianships at the V.A. has been under discussion for months.

The pilot, called “Project Safe Harbor,” identified five V.A. hubs that had been selected to test a “guardianship model for veterans experiencing homelessness” who lack capacity to make “appropriate medical and social decisions for themselves,” according to an internal memo shared with The New York Times. The sites were asked to refer veterans and take legal steps for “placement into appropriate care sites.”

There are about 33,000 homeless veterans in the United States, about 14,000 of whom live on the streets. Veterans make up around 5 percent of the unsheltered homeless population. 

Full Article & Source:
V.A. Begins Drive to Put Homeless Veterans Into Guardianship

Billings Woman Charged with Elder Abuse, Deliberate Homicide by Accountability

BILLINGS, Mont. — Samantha Marie Finch, 32, has been charged with deliberate homicide by accountability, elder abuse, forgery, and tampering with evidence. The charges relate to the death of her grandfather, D.R.F., 79, which occurred between September 2022 and November 2024.

According to official court documents from the Yellowstone County Attorney's Office, Finch allegedly encouraged her boyfriend, Dean Frost, to strangle her grandfather. After the death, she is accused of attempting to conceal the crime by moving D.R.F.’s body into a camper. The documents also allege she gained control of her grandfather’s funds and property through deception and failed to provide necessary care for him.

Investigators found suspicious financial activity in D.R.F.’s accounts, including significant withdrawals linked to Finch. Frost has confessed to the murder as part of a plea deal, saying he strangled D.R.F. and that Finch pressured him to act. He also described a failed attempt to poison D.R.F. with fentanyl.

The court documents note communications showing tension between Finch and Frost after the murder, including Frost expressing regret and his intent to confess. The investigation is ongoing as law enforcement continues gathering evidence and testimony.

The charges against Finch highlight a case of alleged homicide, financial exploitation, and abuse of a vulnerable adult.

Full Article & Source:
Billings Woman Charged with Elder Abuse, Deliberate Homicide by Accountability