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

Caregiver in Eugene sentenced for abusing elderly memory care resident

EUGENE, Ore. - A 50-year-old Eugene man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the sexual abuse of an 86-year-old resident at a memory care facility, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.

State DOJ officials said Michael Putman sexually abused an 86-year-old resident at Churchill Estates, a memory care facility in Eugene, where he worked as the victim's evening caretaker. The abuse occurred over several months, state officials said.

Attorney General Dan Rayfield emphasized the gravity of the crime.

"This case is a heartbreaking reminder that elder abuse can happen in places where families expect their loved ones to be safe," Rayfield said.

He added that the commitment to holding abusers accountable remains strong.

Putman pleaded guilty to charges including first-degree sexual abuse and criminal mistreatment. The Eugene Police Department led the investigation, with support from Kids First and the Oregon State Police Crime Lab.

The Oregon Department of Justice urges anyone suspecting elder abuse or neglect to report it to local authorities for action. 

Full Article & Source:
Caregiver in Eugene sentenced for abusing elderly memory care resident 

Judge: Missouri public guardian’s felony financial crime case can move forward

Sullivan County Public Administrator Joan Brummitt is charged with eight felonies connected to alleged financial crimes

by Matt Flener

MILAN, Mo. — A Missouri elected public guardian’s felony financial crime case will move forward after a preliminary hearing at the Sullivan County courthouse on Wednesday.

Joan Brummitt is accused of stealing nearly $6,000 from a ward of the state under her care, according to court documents.

Brummitt, in her role as Sullivan County Public Administrator, has the responsibility to care for wards of the state.

Public administrators are elected in Missouri to take care of financial and medical decisions for elderly or mentally ill patients when a judge decides family or friends can no longer care for them.

Brummitt appeared in court with her attorney, Mark Williams.

Williams cross-examined Missouri State Highway Patrol investigator Barbara Littrell about Brummitt’s admission to the highway patrol that she moved money from the ward’s account to hers.

Littrell told the court that Brummitt admitted to highway patrol investigators that hackers told her to move the money.

“Bottom line is she conducted the transfers,” Littrell said on the witness stand before Ninth Circuit Court Presiding Judge Terry Tschannen.

Littrell told the court that she worked with employees at Putnam County State Bank to uncover the alleged crimes.

KMBC asked Brummitt’s attorney if she was coerced or told to transfer the ward’s money into her personal account.

“Either that or if they were hacking into her phone,” said Mark Williams. “Regardless of what she thought, you know, they could do it anyway, because as I cross-examined the officer, there are ways depending on the bank and the security system the bank has that they can access people's accounts and they can go back and forth on your own account if you have more than one account.”

Judge Tschannen found enough probable cause existed to keep the case moving forward to trial. He referred the case to allow the Missouri Supreme Court to choose another judge.

Court documents allege Brummitt moved money in October from an elderly ward’s bank account to her personal bank account on four separate occasions.

A Missouri State Highway Patrol investigator said on Oct. 14, 2025, Brummitt used her personal cell phone and online banking app to send money from the ward’s account through three separate transactions, totaling $999, $1,900 and $1,980.

She made another online $999 transfer on Oct. 16, the MSHP investigator said in court documents.

The total amount came to $5,878.

Brummitt is charged with four felony counts of financial exploitation of an older/disabled person and four felony counts of stealing $750 or more.

Brummitt still holds office. But a judge has restricted her from making financial decisions on behalf of her wards.

In a series called "Paper Prisons," KMBC 9 News is investigating ways to systemically improve the care of those under guardianship by highlighting stories of people struggling to navigate a tangled system of legal paperwork, medical records and court orders. 

Full Article & Source:
Judge: Missouri public guardian’s felony financial crime case can move forward

See Also:
Missouri public guardian pleads not guilty to eight felony counts

Missouri elected guardian charged with 8 felonies for stealing from ward

Seven complaints, 16 violations at West Branch nursing home

By Clark Kauffman

A West Branch nursing home that has faced allegations of sexual assault and contributing to a resident’s death has been cited for 16 regulatory violations covering a wide range of recurring problems, from staffing shortages to infection control.

The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing has proposed, but held in suspension, more than $16,000 in state fines against Crestview Specialty Care, a 65-bed nursing home that is part of the Iowa-based chain Care Initiatives. The department typically holds state fines in suspension while the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determines whether a federal penalty is warranted.

The violations cited by DIAL include insufficient nursing staff; failure to provide the required nursing services for residents; hazards in the building; failure to protect residents’ rights; failure to provide a safe, clean, homelike environment; inadequate quality of care; failure to treat and prevent pressure sores, and inadequate infection control.

Of the suspended state fines, $10,000 is tied to the failure to treat and prevent the pressure sores of two different residents, while $6,750 is tied to the failure to assess and follow physicians’ orders for wound treatment.

Although DIAL’s database of care-facility fines indicates the proposed state fines total $16,750, the agency’s written citation indicates an additional $8,000 in fines was proposed and held in suspension due to three residents of the home falling out of the mechanical lifts used to transport residents in and out of bed. One of the three sustained a head injury, a bone fracture at the base of the spine and a leg fracture, according to inspectors.

Seven complaints, all substantiated 

State records indicate the inspection was precipitated by seven separate complaints that required investigation. All of the complaints were substantiated in that inspectors cited the home for specific violations related to each of the complainants’ allegations.

Regarding the allegations of too few staff, which is widely considered to be the single biggest contributor to poor quality care, inspectors reported that employees of the home openly acknowledged the issue.

Inspectors reported that one certified nursing assistant told them the homes did “not have enough staff scheduled on a routine basis.” As a result, she said, employees were not able to provide residents with all of the care they needed, according to inspectors’ reports. “It has been brought to management’s attention numerous times and nothing changes,” the aide allegedly told inspectors.

A registered nurse at the home told inspectors there was “definitely a lack of staff working at the facility at any given time,” adding that she had, on numerous occasions, informed the home’s director of nursing that residents’ needs weren’t being met but had never noticed any difference in the subsequent staffing levels, according to inspectors’ reports.

During the inspection itself, inspectors reported, a licensed practical nurse told them she had been unable to complete that morning’s treatment of residents’ wounds due to the fact that no medication aide had been scheduled to dispense the residents’ prescribed medications.

Another CNA reported that during the evening shift, she was often the only aide assigned to a hall that had 25 residents, despite the fact that some of the residents could only be transferred in and out of bed with the assistance of two or more employees to guard against injuries, according to inspectors’ reports.

On some occasions, she alleged, there weren’t enough employees on duty to get residents to the dining room for supper, so all of the residents were sent trays of food to eat in their rooms.

State records indicate that during Crestview Specialty Care’s last annual inspection, in November 2024, it was cited for some of the same violations, including insufficient nursing staff, failure to treat pressure sores and failure to provide the required nursing services for residents.

That year, Crestview Specialty Care was cited by inspectors for failing to accurately assess residents’ condition and provide medical intervention when necessary. As a result, the inspectors alleged, a resident suffered worsening gastrointestinal issues — which included stomach aches and vomiting – for four days until he was transferred to a hospital emergency room, where he was intubated and three liters of bowel obstruction were suctioned from his stomach.

The hospital was unable to stabilize the resident, who died within six hours of arriving in the emergency room.

Sexual assault lawsuit focuses on staffing

Currently, the family of the late Ruth Bartow is suing Crestview and Care Initiatives in Cedar County District Court. The lawsuit alleges that Bartow was admitted to Crestview in February 2023 with severe cognitive impairments, and that three months later, at 2:50 p.m. on April 5, the staff found an unauthorized male “visitor” in her room — 54-year-old Michael Beaver of West Branch.

Beaver was laying with Bartow in her bed “without any clothes on,” the lawsuit alleges. The Crestview staff escorted Beaver out of Bartow’s room to the front lobby and notified the police. Bartow was later found in her room crying, according to the lawsuit.

Beaver wasn’t criminally charged in the case as he was already subject to a civil commitment proceeding.

State inspectors later concluded Beaver had been seen walking around in the facility as early as 10:30 a.m. that day. At 11:10 a.m., and at 1 p.m., staffers noticed Beaver pushing Bartow in her wheelchair throughout the building but failed to intervene.

The lawsuit accuses Crestview and Care Initiatives of gross negligence and recklessness in the form of inadequate staffing, false advertising, and “inappropriately allocating excessive funds to itself, thereby draining the facility of the resources necessary to maintain sufficient and appropriately trained staff to supervise residents and prevent avoidable injuries.”

The lawsuit also seeks unspecified actual damages and punitive damages for breach of contract and dependent adult abuse.

Crestview and Care Initiatives have denied any wrongdoing and attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed due to the arbitration agreement Bartow’s guardian signed at the time of her admission. That agreement stipulates that any disputes over care issues are to be settled through private arbitration rather than through courtroom litigation.

Attorneys for Bartow’s family argued the arbitration agreement was part of 50 pages of admissions documents that were electronically signed in quick succession, with the arbitration agreement signed only 40 seconds after the admission agreement.

They also claimed the arbitration agreement was barred in cases such as theirs by the 2021 federal law known as the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act. Care Initiatives argued otherwise, saying the family’s claims were “based on an alleged failure to secure the premises — not a sexual assault.”

In May, Cedar County District Court Judge Elizabeth O’Donnell rejected Care Initiatives’ argument and found that the lawsuit revolved around a claim of sexual assault that wasn’t subject to mandatory arbitration.

A trial is now scheduled for May 17, 2027. 

Full Article & Source:
Seven complaints, 16 violations at West Branch nursing home 

Tulsa County deputies arrest son and his partner accused of stealing $150K from elderly woman

Investigators say the victim’s own son, Jeremy Woods, and his partner, Tiffany Thomas, were trusted with her finances but instead spent the money on shopping, entertainment and gambling.

by Cal Day

 TULSA, Okla. - Tulsa County deputies arrested a man and his partner accused of stealing nearly $150,000 from an elderly woman with dementia.

Investigators say the victim’s own son, Jeremy Woods, and his partner, Tiffany Thomas, were trusted with her finances but instead spent the money on shopping, entertainment and gambling.

Deputies say the victim lives in a retirement home. The investigation began after her check for care bounced, prompting a review of her bank account.

According to investigators, the victim’s bank flagged unusual activity and notified deputies and Adult Protective Services.

Deputies say bank records showed hundreds of dollars withdrawn almost daily through ATM and Venmo transactions. Investigators estimate the victim lost as much as $150,000.

“This entire situation is heartbreaking,” said Cpl. Richie Gonzales with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. “The bank statements show a clear pattern of waste and abuse.”

Woods and Thomas are both charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

A judge ordered the two to have no contact with the victim and to stay out of casinos. 

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Tulsa County deputies arrest son and his partner accused of stealing $150K from elderly woman 

Man Sentenced to Prison for Lottery Scam Targeting Elderly Ashley County Resident

by Luke Matheson

An out-of-state man was sentenced to prison following his conviction in a financial scam that targeted an elderly Ashley County resident, authorities said.

On Jan. 8, 2026, a jury found Portier Guytan guilty of charges stemming from a lottery scam involving a 76-year-old Crossett victim. Guytan was sentenced to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and fined $10,000 after Circuit Judge Robert Gibson III accepted the jury’s recommendation.

According to court testimony, the case began May 15, 2025, when Ashley County Sheriff Tommy Sturgeon learned the victim had been contacted by individuals claiming he had won an $11 million Jamaican lottery. The callers instructed the victim to send $50,000 to collect the winnings.

Before law enforcement intervened, the victim had already sent approximately $30,000 and was preparing to deliver the remaining funds during a scheduled exchange at Brookshire’s in Crossett. Deputies set up surveillance on May 16, 2025, and observed Guytan accept a bag containing $27,000 in cash from the victim in exchange for a briefcase purported to contain the lottery proceeds.

Deputies intercepted Guytan immediately after the exchange. Investigators later determined the briefcase contained only printer paper.

Guytan told authorities he was originally from Trinidad and had been living in Massachusetts when he was paid $3,000 to transport money and deliver it to Jamaica. He admitted placing the paper inside the briefcase and acknowledged involvement in a prior exchange, but testified he could not identify the individual he claimed to be working for.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sandra Bradshaw thanked the jury following the verdict, saying the outcome sent a clear message that financial crimes will not be tolerated in Ashley County.

“This conviction underscores that criminals who exploit vulnerable citizens will be held accountable,” Bradshaw said.

Officials said the case highlights the ongoing efforts of the 10th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Ashley County Sheriff’s Office to combat elder fraud. Sheriff Sturgeon noted that lottery and sweepstakes scams are common and difficult to investigate due to their international nature. He added that many victims fail to report the crimes out of embarrassment.

Prosecuting Attorney Frank Spain said similar scams have plagued the United States for more than a decade.

“The Jamaican Lottery or Sweepstakes Scam has targeted vulnerable individuals for over 15 years,” Spain said. “The Federal Trade Commission issued warnings about this type of fraud as early as 2009. This conviction sends a strong message that this exploitation will not be tolerated.”

Spain urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers promising large payouts in exchange for fees or taxes, noting such demands typically continue until the victim’s funds are exhausted.

Authorities also warned of other common elder fraud schemes identified by the FBI, including romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation scams, home repair scams, and caregiver exploitation.

More information on elder fraud and how to avoid scams can be found on the FBI’s website at fbi.gov. 

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Man Sentenced to Prison for Lottery Scam Targeting Elderly Ashley County Resident 

2 accused of stealing more than $200,000 from elderly Gwinnett woman through spoofing

By Matt Johnson, WSB-TV 

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County grand jury has indicted two Florida residents accused of draining more than $200,000 from a 75-year-old Snellville woman’s bank account.

Ruiz Rember, 22, and Iesha Delcane, 22, both from the Miami area, face nine felony counts including elder exploitation, identity fraud, computer theft and conspiracy.

“It’s very serious, especially in this case. This woman lost a lot of money,” Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle with Gwinnett County Police said.

According to arrest warrants, the scheme began in August 2024 when the victim received what appeared to be a legitimate message from Bank of America about fraud on her account.

“When they click that phone number, that phone number is spoofed and then goes to somebody committing the fraud, who then presents themself as some kind of bank fraud department,” Winderweedle said.

The suspects asked for a security code sent to her phone. Once she provided it, investigators say they gained full access to her account.

“They were able to make numerous withdrawals from her account, totaling over $200,000 and sending them to various locations in other cities,” Winderweedle said.

Detectives tracked the suspects through ATM withdrawals and security camera footage. Investigators recovered about half of the stolen funds.

Neither suspect needed to be in Georgia to commit the crime.

“They can be out of state. They can be out of the country. These can originate from other countries, other continents,” Winderweedle said.

Rember joined Delcane in the Gwinnett County Jail last Thursday. Both are being held without bond.

“These criminals, they’re going to ask for a security code. Do not provide that security code,” Winderweedle warned. “A bank employee is not going to ask you for that security code. When they ask for that, that’s a big indication that it’s fraud.” 

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2 accused of stealing more than $200,000 from elderly Gwinnett woman through spoofing

Police: Mechanicsburg caretaker charged with abusing, stealing from elderly victim

Jacqueline Marie Williams, 35, allegedly physically abused the 67-year-old victim and stole $3,100 from his bank accounts, Middlesex Township Police claim.

Author: Keith Schweigert (FOX43)

CARLISLE, Pa. — Police have charged a Cumberland County woman with physically abusing and stealing money from an elderly man she was caring for.

Jacqueline Marie Williams, 35, of Mechanicsburg, is charged with a felony count of financial exploitation of an older adult and two misdemeanor counts of abuse of a care-dependent person, according to Middlesex Township Police.

Williams is accused of physically restraining and abusing the 67-year-old victim during an argument in June 2025 and making two unauthorized withdrawals totaling $3,100 from his bank account in July 2025, according to police.

Williams served as a personal caretaker to the victim, who is legally blind, mostly confined to a wheelchair and has suffered from "a multitude of moderate to severe medical issues," for about four years, according to police. She had access to his bank accounts to assist him with general banking, paying bills, and paying for activities, groceries, and other personal care needs, police said.

The victim also gave her a new car for her own use and allowed her mother to have access to a second vehicle he left in their custody, according to police.

The victim lived with Williams, her mother, and a friend of Williams in the past, according to police. While Williams had permission to access the victim's bank accounts, he reported, her mother and friend did not -- nor did they have his permission to use his bank cards or spend his money.

According to the victim's report, Williams pinned his arms down and poked him in the face during an argument in June 2025, and put her hands around his neck and choked him during another argument the next day.

She also conspired with her friend to make two unauthorized withdrawals from his account for a total of $3,100 in July 2025, according to police. 

Full Article & Source:
Police: Mechanicsburg caretaker charged with abusing, stealing from elderly victim 

This store manager saved a P.E.I. senior from a scam. Now, she's warning others to beware

A convenience store manager in P.E.I. noticed a woman trying to withdraw thousands of dollars after getting a phone call from scammers. The manager says she knew of the nature of the crime because her own mother also fell victim to it. As CBC’s Laura Meader reports, both women now want to warn others. 

Source:
This store manager saved a P.E.I. senior from a scam. Now, she's warning others to beware 

CBS12 viewer helping veteran who put 'Call the Police' note on mailbox in elder abuse case

by Al Pefley 

LANTANA, Fla. (CBS12) — An elderly Lantana man is getting some much-needed help.

As we reported a few days ago, the 81 year old man, who asked not to be identified, was allegedly attacked by his live-in caregiver, Denise Williams, 61, when police say she tried to strangle him on December 28.

Lantana Police say Williams then took his cellphone and two landline phones and his credit card and checkbook and she left, leaving him with no way to call for help. The man is a Navy veteran, a widower and retired security guard who has limited ability to walk.

Police say the victim put a note on his mailbox saying "Call the Police." The next day, December 29, a letter carrier found the note and he spoke with his supervisor at the post office and she called Lantana Police and Williams was later arrested.

A nurse who says she saw our story on CBS12 News and she was so saddened by what happened, that she reached out to help him. She is with a firm that places home health aides in homes of elderly people in south Florida.

"It bothered me that he's a veteran, and that what happened to him, that he was assaulted, and that nobody's looking after him, and that he had to put a note on the mailbox. I was horrified by that," said Michele Farkas, Nursing Administrator, Home with Help of Florida, Inc.

"So why did you want to help him? Because it's the right thing to do. We were raised that way. I'm Jewish. We were raised to do good in the world. My family, my father was a veteran," Farkas said.

She says she put him in touch with the VA and they will hopefully provide a home health aide to come to his house 12 hours a week to help him shower, perhaps do laundry and clean up his home and look after him. He will also get an emergency call button that he can wear so he can summon help if necessary in a medical emergency.

Williams is charged with robbery by sudden snatching, battery on the elderly and elderly exploitation.

Full Article & Source:
CBS12 viewer helping veteran who put 'Call the Police' note on mailbox in elder abuse case 

 

Larned couple charged with elder abuse, financial mistreatment following 2.5-year investigation

By Matt Heilman

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - A two-and-a-half year investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office led to charges against a Larned couple, accused of financial mistreatment and elder abuse in a case involving crimes possibly going back a little more than a decade.

Unraveling what happened in the case, Jeffrey S. Bates, 64 and 62-year-old Sandi Bates are each charged with “one count of conspiracy to commit financial mistreatment of a dependent adult/elder person with an aggregate value of at least $100,000 but less than $250,000.”

Jeffrey and Sandi Bates faces charges in connection with an elder abuse case in Pawnee County, Kansas.(Pawnee County Sheriff's Office)

The office of Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett explained the financial mistreatment charge in the context of the case against Jeffrey and Sandi Bates, defining it as, “the intent to knowingly take the personal property or financial resources of a dependent adult or an elder person for the benefit of the defendant by taking control of the personal property or financial resources of said dependent adult or elder person through undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress, deception, false representation, false pretense or without adequate consideration to such dependent adult or elder person.” 

The Pawnee County Attorney’s Office said this mistreatment occurred between July 15, 2015, and December 31, 2022.

Jeffrey Bates faces an additional count of physical mistreatment of a dependent adult/elder person. He’s accused of “knowingly inflicting physical injury, unreasonable confinement or unreasonable punishment upon a dependent adult or an elder person.”

The physical abuse allegedly happened “on or about Nov. 26, 2022,” and, “in the alternative, [Bates] is charged with Criminal Restraint, a Class A Person Misdemeanor,” the county attorney’s office clarified.

The physical mistreatment charge is listed as a “severity level 5 person felony” and the financial mistreatment charge, the Pawnee County Attorney’s Office explained, is “a severity level 6 person felony.”

The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jeffrey and Sandi Bates on Dec. 1, reportedly “without incident at their Larned residence.”

The county attorney’s office said that the couple remains free on bond and that a preliminary hearing in the case is set for Jan. 21.

“Under the Kansas sentencing guidelines, the conspiracy charge carries a sentence between 17 months and 46 months (nearly four years) in the Department of Corrections, depending on criminal history,” the Pawnee County Attorney’s Office explained.

In the video above, you can find prior coverage from an elder abuse case in Ness County in which a couple faces three years of probation. This case involved the abuse and neglect of a 90-year-old woman who was also an Air Force veteran. 

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Larned couple charged with elder abuse, financial mistreatment following 2.5-year investigation 

PD: Local CNA accused of 'forcing' medication down 90-year-old dementia patient's throat

by Ryan Graffius

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — State College Police say a local nurse assistant is facing elder abuse-related charges following a months-long investigation into allegations that she "forced" medication down the throat of a 90-year-old dementia patient.

Investigators say 49-year-old Chrystal Winters, of Three Springs, is accused of 'angerly' reacting to an alleged outburst from the victim --- who is a resident at the Embassy of Hearthside nursing facility, in Centre County.

According to the affidavit, police say the allegations of abuse reportedly stem from an early October incident at the facility, one that reportedly required the response of four nurses to the victim's room.

Investigators learned that on the day of the alleged incident, the 90-year-old victim was reportedly 'acting combative' and refusing to take her medication.

As additional nurses were called to the room to assist with the situation, police say that is when the victim reportedly scratched Winters' face and neck.

According to witnesses, police say the victim's outburst and alleged attack on Winters reportedly angered her, at which time she allegedly began 'forcing' the victim's medication down her throat and 'holding the victim's mouth shut."

Police note that Winters' alleged actions, according to health officials, were not only an apparent code of conduct violation, but that she also reportedly violated the 'proper scope of practice,' as CNAs are not permitted to give medication to patients.

Online court records show that Winters is facing misdemeanors for abuse of a care dependent person and is free without bail.  

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PD: Local CNA accused of 'forcing' medication down 90-year-old dementia patient's throat 

'It's a good feeling giving back to the community'

by Oprah Flash

A window cleaner has put his squeegee and bucket aside to shovel snow and ice off the drives of elderly people for free, to help them avoid injury in the cold weather.

When snow started falling across Wolverhampton, 23-year-old Owen James' first thought was the impact on the vulnerable members of the community.

Offering his help, he posted a video on Facebook on Sunday that attracted more than 70 responses and viewed nearly 40,000 times. On his first day, he says he cleared 23 drives and pathways, costing him nearly £200 so far.

"Money comes and goes, but it's a good feeling giving back to the community," James said.

He is continuing to offer his services across the city and has continued to go wherever he receives a heads up that someone is in need.

"One cul-de-sac is on a hill and there's a lot of elderly living there who couldn't get their cars out because the bottom of the hill was like an ice-rink. I nearly lost my van on it," James said.

"I put the grit down and the residents were able to get out then, that's what it's all about, allowing people to get on with their lives in this weather, everyone is winning then."

All of the grit and equipment has been funded from his own pocket, costing him about £180, but he says he has no plans to stop.

"It's well worth it for the community, people have helped us build a window cleaning business so it's a way of giving back," James said.

"I'll be out until the snow disappears all together."

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for heavy snow in Wolverhampton from Thursday night into Friday. An amber cold-health alert has also been issued. 

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'It's a good feeling giving back to the community'

Hospice worker moved elderly patient 'one time a day' while letting her rot in her own filth, police say

by Conrad Hoyt

A woman in southern Iowa is accused of leaving a woman under her care to lie in her bodily fluids, not giving her the medications she needed, and generally failing to look after her.

Audrey Engler, 25, has been charged with intentional dependent adult abuse, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime. While she was charged just days ago, the alleged offense occurred in August.

It was the morning of Aug. 15, and the Burlington Police Department learned that a woman had died the night before, per a criminal complaint obtained by The Hawk Eye. She was an older woman paying the in-home care company Vibrance Homecare to look after her, and Engler had been assigned the job.

The 25-year-old suspect was reportedly living with the victim — whose name and age were not immediately available — until July 21, when the older woman was hospitalized after her mattress caught fire. The woman could not move from her bed on her own.

As police began to investigate the victim's status, they apparently discovered harrowing circumstances. She had burns on her back, "large bed sores," soiled linens, a catheter full of urine, and she was sitting in feces, according to the complaint. But that was reportedly not all.

Engler was allegedly not giving the woman the medicine she needed. Furthermore, the home was a mess, with "stuff all over the ground" so that "a person couldn't find a place to sit or stand."

When police spoke with the victim's case manager, the manager said the victim asked the company to buy her clothing items because "all her money was going to Engler," The Hawk Eye reported. The victim also had a nurse, who told investigators she was visiting frequently to deal with the woman's pain, but that Engler encouraged her to reduce the number of times she visited.

Also troubling was that the woman appeared to be getting "skinnier and skinnier," according to the complaint. The woman would communicate with Engler via text when she needed something, but detectives reviewed their message history and found multiple occurrences where Engler "wouldn't respond for hours."

The suspect would reportedly later admit that she only moved the woman "one time a day" and that she "could have taken care of the dependent adult better and could have checked on her more and could have had more compassion for her."

Engler was placed in the Des Moines County Correctional Center on Thursday and is expected in court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 29.

Burlington is located in southeastern Iowa, along the border with Illinois. 

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Hospice worker moved elderly patient 'one time a day' while letting her rot in her own filth, police say