Bank restores stolen funds to 112-year-old Texas man

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Bank of America has credited the account of a Texas resident who is believed to be the oldest man in the U.S. after his family reported that thieves had stolen his identity and drained the account.

Richard Overton's family said Social Security and bank account numbers for the 112-year-old Austin man were used to make seven withdrawals over the past several months. The family filed a police report Friday .

Cousin Volma Overton said the family was shocked when the bank asked them to come in and sign for the restored funds. He declined to say how much money was stolen, but said it was a "significant amount."

"Man, I teared up," Volma Overton said. "I couldn't believe it. They made it happen. The executive of the company said he'd take care of this, and he took care of it."

Bank spokeswoman Colleen Haggerty said the bank is investigating and the family said Austin police and federal authorities are also looking into it.

"Everyone wants to get to the bottom of this. I don't think it's going to be long before we know," Volma Overton said.

The money was separate from a 2015 online campaign that raised more than $300,000 to provide for Richard Overton around-the-clock, in-home care. He is the nation's oldest World War II veteran and was at Pearl Harbor just after the Japanese attack.

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Bank restores stolen funds to 112-year-old Texas man

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Thieves empty bank account of 112-year-old Richard Overton, oldest living WWII vet

Thieves empty bank account of 112-year-old Richard Overton, oldest living WWII vet

Thieves emptied a bank account belonging to 112-year-old Richard Overton. (Photo: CBS Austin)

 AUSTIN, Texas — Someone has been withdrawing money from Richard Overton's bank account, which has been emptied out.

The family of the 112-year-old says thieves got a hold of Overton's Social Security number and bank account information which they used to purchase bonds.

"Upset and just wondering who could do something to Richard like this," said Volma Overton, Richard's cousin. "What happened to the rest of the money?"

According to Overton, he noticed something suspicious Wednesday when he deposited money in Richard's checking account.

He saw the only money in the account was what he had just deposited.

The bank told him Treasury Direct withdrew money four different times.

Friday morning, they learned someone set up an account with Treasury Direct using Overton's name and social security number to withdraw money and buy savings bonds.

"He's going to be upset," said Martin Wilford, a close family friend. "We are trying to keep him in his home through all types of fundraisers, and someone could just take from him? You're going to do that to him? Shame on you."

Overton, the nation's oldest living World War II veteran, is still taken care of by way of a GoFundMe account that helps pay for his care.

Austin Police officials say they are working closely with the Overton family.

Overton says he and the rest of the family have seen the uproar on social media after this story broke, and he is hoping this leads to an arrest.

"Hopefully justice will be done," Overton said.

The bank has contacted Treasury Direct to see if they can identify who started the account.

In May, Overton celebrated his 112th birthday.

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Thieves empty bank account of 112-year-old Richard Overton, oldest living WWII vet