Infomercial Star Sam Meranto, 94, Locked in Legal Battle With Wife, 65, Over $2.6 Million Estate

Arizona infomercial star Sam Meranto, 94, is currently amid a legal battle with wife Cynthia Meranto, 65, over the couple’s $2.6 million estate after she petitioned for guardianship over him. 

By Olivia Evans

An Arizona couple is amid a tense, expensive legal battle.  

Sam Meranto, a local Phoenix celebrity who rose to prominence for his self-help infomercials, and his wife of nearly 45 years Cynthia Meranto are currently fighting for control over their $2.6 million estate. 

According to Maricopa County Probate Court records obtained by The Arizona Republic, Sam, 94, as well as his three living children Jeffrey “Rico” Meranto, April Meranto and Jason Meranto—he welcomed six kids with his first wife Maria Meranto—have alleged that he is “terrified” of Cynthia’s effort to place him in a guardianship and conservatorship that will “deprive him of money, friendships and family.” They further expressed fear he will be “sent to a facility to die.” 

Cynthia, for her part, has stated in court documents obtained by The Arizona Republic that her husband is “unable to make meaningful decisions regarding his care and finance,” and that Rico and Jason had him removed from a care facility earlier this year without her knowledge and against her wishes. 

The 65-year-old’s court filings also claim she is “afraid” of Sam’s children, especially Rico, who she alleged in the documents had previously accused her of stealing Sam’s valuables (she has made similar allegations toward him).

Meanwhile, Cynthia—who tied the knot with Sam in 1983—alleged that Rico manipulated her husband into signing a document that replaced her with him as Sam’s power of attorney. However, Sam and Rico argue that he had signed over the papers after the 94-year-old called his son multiple times begging for help to get out of the facility where Cynthia had placed him following a hospitalization in July 2025 after a bad fall. (According to court documents, Sam’s sons removed him from the care facility in February, and he’s currently residing in a “family home.”)

Sam Meranto/Instagram

Cynthia’s attorney Carol Soderquist acknowledged elsewhere in court documents that the couple’s estate is estimated to be worth around $2.6 million, but noted that as of July the pair have lost around $100,000 due to their ongoing legal battle, which began in March. 

Sam was an established television star at the time the pair tied the knot in 1983, but Cynthia’s petition alleges that due to their nearly 50-year marriage, “there are very few assets that are not community property.”

In a statement to The Arizona Republic in June, Cynthia said she loves her husband and the entire ordeal “has been very difficult for everyone involved.”

E! News has attempted to retrieve court documents and reach out to attorneys for Sam and Cynthia but has not yet heard back. 

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Infomercial Star Sam Meranto, 94, Locked in Legal Battle With Wife, 65, Over $2.6 Million Estate 

Nursing home administrator accused of elder abuse and financial exploitation

Inspectors cite care facility for failing to report the allegations 

By Clark Kauffman  

A former Iowa nursing home administrator is accused of elder abuse in civil court filings alleging she improperly took more than $32,000 from a relative who resides at the home.

No criminal charges have been filed in the case, but a judge has issued a temporary protective order against elder abuse. The order limits the administrator’s contact with the resident.

State inspection records indicate that in July 2026, the niece of a 76-year-old male resident at the Accura Healthcare of LeMars care facility filed a complaint with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. According to state records, the niece, Janelle Scoville, reported that on March 5, 2026, she was notified by her uncle’s bank of potentially fraudulent charges to his personal account.

Inspectors allege the bank reported the charges involved checks written by the resident’s stepdaughter, identified in court records as Katrina Bruner, who was the administrator at the care facility at that time and had power of attorney over some of the resident’s affairs. Scoville also reported concerns regarding medical decisions and care that was being provided at the facility, inspectors allege.

According to the inspectors, an Adult Protective Services worker reported that while at the care facility, she informed the home’s executive director of operations of the allegations of financial exploitation by Bruner, as well as concerns that were expressed about the resident having to sleep on a couch.

The inspection report indicates Bruner stopped working at the care facility on March 30, 2026, the same day the courts issued a protective order preventing her from contacting the resident in question.

The home’s former director of nursing allegedly told state inspectors Scoville had expressed concerns regarding financial and medical decisions made by Bruner but could not recall when those conversations took place.  When asked whether the concerns should have been reported by the facility to DIAL as potential resident abuse, the former director of nursing allegedly responded, “Until something is proven, there is nothing we can do.”

In July, the home’s new administrator confirmed that the facility was required to have notified DIAL as soon as the abuse allegations were reported to the staff, inspectors allege.

Court records show that Scoville, of Dakota City, Nebraska, filed with the Plymouth County courts a petition for relief from elder abuse on March 30, 2026.

In her petition, Scoville alleged under oath that Bruner “has written $32,000 worth of checks to her children from (the resident’s) account that he didn’t authorize. She paid for her own home remodel with his money and paid for her own credit cards. She was supposed to take over payments of his new car but took the car and paid it off with his money. Is trying to sell his house. Has all his vehicles and keys. I have video of him saying he didn’t approve it.”

On March 30, Chief District Court Judge Patrick Tott approved a Temporary Protective Order Against Elder Abuse, barring Bruner from having any contact with the resident or exercising control over his finances.

On May 11, Scoville and Bruner filed a joint agreement with the court indicating Bruner, while admitting no liability in the matter, had agreed to relinquish power of attorney and any control she had over the resident’s finances and property.

“The issue of alleged financial exploitation and any claim for restitution shall be reserved and deferred for determination by the court at a later hearing,” the agreement stipulated.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Bruner for comment on the case. Her attorney, Robert Brock, declined to comment on the matter.

Scoville said Friday she is still waiting for a copy of an investigative report from Adult Protective Services, adding that a criminal investigation is still ongoing.

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Nursing home administrator accused of elder abuse and financial exploitation