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. 

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

Luzerne County caretaker charged with financial exploitation

Story by Emily Cherkauskas

A Luzerne County caretaker is facing charges after police say she stole over $34,000 from the person she took care of.

Dina Sabecky of Edwardsville was charged by Dallas Township police with identity theft, forgery and theft by deception and unlawful taking in connection to a series of alleged fraudulent transactions.

According to police, Sabecky was hired as a personal caretaker in 2014. After, "significant" financial discrepancies were discovered in the victim's Wells Fargo Bank account by the victim and family members.

Investigators determined that Sabecky made unauthorized ATM withdrawals, altered checks totaling over $34,000 and deposited them into a personal account. She also allegedly forged the victim’s signature on additional checks.

Search warrants executed at Wells Fargo and PNC Bank revealed a total of 80 fraudulent checks amounting to $25,675 deposited between 2019 and 2020. Additional fraudulent checks from 2017 and 2018 brought the total loss to $34,638.

Sabecky arranged on the charges on Wednesday before being released on $25,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025.

"The Dallas Township Police Department urges residents to closely monitor their financial accounts. If you believe you have been a victim of financial exploitation, please report it to your local law enforcement agency," police said in a press release.

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Luzerne County caretaker charged with financial exploitation

Court docs: Indy caretaker beat disabled man with flashlight

by: Matt Christy

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis caretaker is under arrest after coworkers accused him of beating an autistic, non-verbal man with a flashlight.

Williams Brooks Jr., 85, is charged with one count of battery resulting in bodily injury to a disabled person, a Level 5 felony.

William Brooks Jr. (Johnson Co. Jail)

According to court documents, Greenwood police were notified of the abuse on July 5 by employees of Community Integration Support Services. The coworkers reportedly filmed part of the abuse.

A police officer reported viewing the footage and said it showed Brooks striking the victim with a closed fist multiple times in the chest and abdomen area.

The witnesses said the abuse continued beyond what was shown in the video and included Brooks striking the victim with a flashlight. Photographs of the victim’s injuries were shown to police and included the victim having several bloody cuts on his lips.

Police spoke to Brooks who reportedly denied striking the victim. He claimed he sometimes had to “push” the victim in order to make him lie down. He also claimed he put a flashlight to the victim’s head “to let him feel the flashlight,” but denied hitting the victim with it.

Brooks was taken into custody and transported to the Johnson County Jail.

If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison.

Community Integration Support Services said Brooks was terminated the same day his co-workers reported his abuse. The company and its employees are cooperating with police investigators and providing support services to the victim, his family and staff members.

“We are deeply saddened and disturbed to receive a report of abuse against a consumer of our services. The safety and wellbeing of those in our care is our highest priority. Community Integration Support Services have a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of abuse or mistreatment.

 Steven Phillips, owner/president of Community Integration Support Services

Community Integration Support Services said it will conduct an internal review of policies, procedures and staff training to determine how this incident occurred and to prevent any other incidents like this from happening again. 

“We extend our sincerest apologies to the victim, the family, our staff and our community. We understand the trust placed in us and take our responsibility extremely seriously. We are dedicated to regaining that trust through our actions going forward,” Phillips said.  

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Court docs: Indy caretaker beat disabled man with flashlight

Caretaker charged with spending thousands of dollars with dementia patient's debit card

by LENNY COHEN

Sandra Jean Yeager was charged with grand theft of between $750 and $5,000, and with exploitation of an elderly person, Jan. 26, 2024. (Sumter Co. Sheriff's Office)

WILDWOOD, Fla. (TND) — A woman in Florida who helped take care of an elderly man with dementia is accused of taking care of herself with his debit card, big time.

There's a long list of places she allegedly spent money with his that card, and she's charged with two felonies.

According to her arrest report, “The victim's son stated that his father was showing signs of dementia and stated he could not operate the TV remote, could no longer utilize his smartphone, and could not even use the phone to call him.

“It was unknown to him that his father had given the defendant the debit card.”

A Wildwood police officer reported going to Sandra Jean Yeager's home early on Jan. 26, and wrote, “The defendant admitted that she used the victim's card to purchase items without prior approval, but stated that it was only a few items.

“The defendant stated that some items she was given permission to purchase and paid back,” the report continued, “but was unable to provide receipts or any information showing that this took place.”

The arrest report listed many visits to several stores, starting with various Walmart locations, gathered from spending with the card.

Sandra Jean Yeager's arrest report includes a list of 20 dates from October through December that she visited a single Walmart in The Villages, spending a total of $1,132.46 there, Jan. 26, 2024. (Wildwood Police Dept.)

First, there are 20 dates from October through December that she visited a single Walmart in The Villages, spending a total of $1,132.46 there.

Separately, it lists the same store a second time on Nov. 14, for a total of $191.53.

Sandra Jean Yeager's arrest report continues with more spending she allegedly made, coming to a grand total of $3,486.64, Jan. 26, 2024. (Wildwood Police Dept.)

The next page lists nine visits to five other Walmarts, along with multiple visits to eight other shops, and online with Google.

The total came to $3,486.64, according to the arrest report.

Yeager was charged with grand theft of between $750 and $5,000, and with exploitation of an elderly person. Both are felonies.

She was booked later in the morning of Jan. 26, and spent 26 hours in jail before her release.

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Caretaker charged with spending thousands of dollars with dementia patient's debit card

Caretaker Arrested For Making Unauthorized Purchases

By Amy Adams

Mercedez Hastie (Vanderburgh County Jail)

A caretaker is facing charges after police say she was reported for using her client’s debit card to make unauthorized purchases.

27-year-old Mercedez Hastie was given the client’s debit card information to make grocery, food and essential purchases for them as needed.

She is now facing charges for making fraudulent purchases on the card determined to be over $7,000.

She is facing three counts of fraud, forgery, identity deception and theft.

Hastie was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail, but has since been released.

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Caretaker Arrested For Making Unauthorized Purchases

Caretaker charged with exploiting elderly woman

By Odessa American

A 54-year-old home care provider was arrested after police say she used her patient’s debit card to retrieve cash from an ATM.

Elva Garcia Valenzuela, 54, was charged with exploitation of the elderly, a third-degree felony.

An Odessa Police Department probable cause affidavit detailed the complainant, identified as 71-year-old Rosemary Orta, reported her homecare provider, Valenzuela, who was employed by Caprock Home Health Services, used her debit card to retrieve cash from an ATM located in Odessa without her authorization or consent on May 27.

Orta told police that she previously gave her card to Valenzuela to purchase groceries and a belt for her scooter. The fraudulent transactions happened between May 27 and May 29 at the Chase Bank ATM located at 1607 N. County Road West.

Valenzuela was read the Miranda Warning and she waived her rights and admitted to getting money from the said ATM on May 27, May 28 and May 29, which wasn’t used for Orta’s needs.

Valenzuela was booked into the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on Jan. 4, jail records show. She had one bond totaling $9,000 and posted bail on Jan. 4.

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Caretaker charged with exploiting elderly woman

Jones County woman charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult

by: Kaitlin Howell

 

JONES COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT) – A Jones County woman has been charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

Investigators said Kelsey Bradshaw was a caretaker of an elderly person. She allegedly used the person’s credit card for unauthorized purchases.

According to deputies, Bradshaw charged more than $6,000 on the victim’s credit card over the last several months. She was arrested on October 22, 2021.

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Jones County woman charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult

Police: Caretaker charged more than $43,000 on victim’s debit card

Katherine Dreher

by: Linda Cook

A 35-year-old Eldridge caretaker was released from Scott County Jail on Tuesday morning after police say she used a neighbor’s debit card to charge more than $43,000.

Katherine Dreher, who was arrested on a warrant, faces felony charges of first-degree theft, dependent-adult abuse – exploitation over $100, and forgery.

In an arrest affidavit, Eldridge police say Dreher has been writing checks in the victim’s name dated back to 2019.

The Department of Human Services defines Dreher as the victim’s caretaker. Dreher has been living in a duplex owned by the victim, with the victim as her neighbor, in Eldridge, police say.

Witnesses say they have seen Dreher with the victim’s debit card, the affidavit says.

“The victim never kept her residence secure, giving full access to the residence by the defendant,” the affidavit says. Text messages show Dreher has been inside the victim’s residence without permission.

“The victim’s state-appointed conservator is still recovering charges not made by the victim,” the affidavit says.

Some online purchases were made with the victim’s debit card and packages were sent to Dreher’s address. The victim has no internet access, the affidavit says.

Dreher, who was released on her own recognizance, is set for a preliminary hearing Oct. 1 in Scott County Court, court records say.

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Police: Caretaker charged more than $43,000 on victim’s debit card

WV caretaker charged with credit card fraud

Courtesy: Boone County Sheriff’s Facebook

by: Bailey Brautigan 

BOONE COUNTY, WV (WOWK)—On Saturday, Boon County Deputies arrested 41-year-old Carrie Graley Dolin of Madison on charges of illegally using credit cards which belonged to a family she was helping to care for.

According to police, the victim was physically incapacitated because of advanced cancer, and the defendant allegedly charged around $7,000 worth of personal items in less than a month.

She was charged with eight counts of Fraudulent Use of an Access Device (also known as credit card fraud) and one count of Financial Exploitation of an Incapacitated Adult. More charges are thought to be forthcoming as this is still an ongoing case.

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WV caretaker charged with credit card fraud

Caretaker charged after embezzling over $61K from elderly woman

By JARRID McCORMICK

RED JACKET — A Mingo County woman is facing 15 felony charges after police say she embezzled more than $60,000 from an elderly woman she was taking care of.

Barbara Jean Gooslin, 63, of Red Jacket was arrested Jan. 14 by the West Virginia State Police and charged with seven counts of forgery, seven counts of uttering and one count of embezzlement by misuse of fiduciary relationship, according to a criminal complaint filed in Mingo County Magistrate Court.

According to the complaint, Gooslin was serving as a caretaker for the victim from Feb. 6, 2018, to July 11, 2018, assisting her with day-to-day needs, running errands and paying bills.

She would also assist the victim with retrieving the victim’s mail and making sure the incoming bills were paid by issuing checks to the biller.

During this time period, police say that Gooslin wrote seven of the victim’s checks made out to either herself or “cash” in varying amounts.

The checks cashed were written for $9,500, $8,000, $9,500, $9,600, $7,500, $9,750 and $7,500 — a total of $61,350.

While interviewing Gooslin, the report states she told police that she wrote the checks to herself and cashed them at the Matewan Branch of BB&T and did so without authorization or consent from the victim or any other authorized person.

When asked about the cash, she told police that she did not have any of the cash on hand or in her possession and was unable to tell the officer what the money was spent on or where it is located.

Gooslin was arraigned in Mingo County Magistrate Court by David Justice and has since been released after posting a $40,000 cash/property bail.

Corporal J.D. Matheny of the Williamson Detachment of the WVSP was listed as the investigating officer.

Disclaimer: All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. A criminal complaint is a document that alleges a criminal charge.

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Caretaker charged after embezzling over $61K from elderly woman

Caretaker Charged With Attacking Man With Autism And Intellectual Disabilities

 

A caretaker in Allegheny County is charged with attacking a man with autism and intellectual disabilities. KDKA's Jennifer Borrasso has more. 

Source:

Caretaker Charged With Attacking Man With Autism And Intellectual Disabilities

Video shows healthcare staff punching, beating disabled man with belt

Investigation found at least five employees at the mental health facility beat a man, and allowed other patients to join in.

Author: Andy Pierotti, Lindsey Basye



GORDON, Ga. — The family of a mentally disabled Georgia man has released video showing their loved one being repeatedly beaten by staff hired to care for him.

Brian Jarrad, the family's attorney, said the family wanted to release video of the 2013 incident now to warn the public that neglect is happening at facilities all across Georgia.

“These are some of our most weakest, our most vulnerable citizens. So, it’s important to know and watch and to see when they’re not being cared for appropriately,” said Jarrard.

The Macon attorney represents 55-year-old Joey Cason. When Cason’s family could no longer care for him, they admitted him into Total Care, a facility in Gordan, Georgia, licensed to care for the developmentally disabled.

“Physically, he is not disabled. He is able to function physically, but he is severely mentally disabled," explained Jarrard.

Surveillance video recorded on November 7, 2013 shows staff repeatedly hitting Cason with belts, punching him on the ground and allowing other residents to hit him.

At one point, staff appears to be taunting Cason with food and laughing at him.



“I think anybody would find the video despicable,” said Jarrard. “It was heartbreaking. It made me angry to think of individuals who were being paid to care for him were engaged in just despicable abuse.”

Gordon Police charged a caretaker named Shakia Smith with battery and abuse/neglect of an elder person.

Jarrard said the case against the former facility owner is still pending. Carson is now at a different facility in south Georgia and is doing well, Jarrad said.

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities revoked the facility’s license after an investigation.

Total Care’s former owner, Pamela Reaves, declined to comment about the pending litigation. Her attorney, Wayne Kendall, did not return follow-up questions sent by email.

The video’s release comes on the heels of Georgia seeking to end nearly 10 years of federal supervision of its mental health care services. The Reveal Investigation also uncovered a rise in abuse, neglect and exploitation at state licensed mental health care providers.

Tune into 11Alive Thursday night at 11 p.m. for The Reveal's investigation into Georgia mental health providers and other abuse claims against facilities across the state.

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Video shows healthcare staff punching, beating disabled man with belt

Police: Caretaker went on spending spree using elderly couple's credit cards

BILLERICA, Mass. - A woman accused of stealing credit cards from a 91-year-old man and his deceased wife was the couple's caretaker and neighbor.

Christine Wojcik had stolen the cards and made several purchases at local Market Baskets and CVS locations - and even going to Foxwoods casino - racking up nearly $5,500 in debt in a month, according to the police report.

Wojcik, who was a trusted family friend, was arraigned on theft charges on Tuesday.

"I couldn’t believe she did a thing like that," said nonagenarian Ralph Rizzo.

It's been an emotional few months for Rizzo, who lost his wife, Marie, last year. 

"That was the toughest, after 69 years," he said.

And then, while grieving, the caretaker he trusted for four years was arrested, accused of stealing their credit cards.

"She seemed like a very honest person," Rizzo said. "She was going in the bedroom, fishing around until she got the charge cards."

Rosanne Campbell, the victims’ daughter, said the theft and betrayal have taken a toll on the family.

"The past month has been horrible. I haven’t been able to sleep or anything thinking about it," Campbell said.

Campbell said she was away and her Dad was likely in his recliner in their Billerica home, out of view of what was happening in the bedroom next door. 

"We always kept that door shut. She had no reason in the world to go in that door," Campbell said.

Campbell got the bill last month.

"I opened it and I’m looking at it, and I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ she said.

Several charges were at Foxwoods casino, police said.

"What the bingo was to me, was I looked at it and I saw Foxwoods” on the same day she’s down there, Campbell said.

Wojcik was arrested and charged with larceny, receiving stolen credit cards and misleading police.

Rizzo and his daughter are trying to move on.

"I wouldn’t trust anyone again. You know what I mean? She really threw me for a loop," Campbell said.

Police reports state there's video evidence of Wojcik using the cards in multiple locations.

Attempts to reach Wojcik at her home were unsuccessful.

She is due back in court in April. 

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Police: Caretaker went on spending spree using elderly couple's credit cards

Court records: West Virginia caretaker forced large dogs to attack patient

CALHOUN COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) - A caretaker in Calhoun County, West Virginia has been charged after court records claim she struck her patient with shaving cream cans and forced large dogs to attack him.

Lizzy Mae Ferrell, 36, of Grantsville is charged with abuse of neglect of incapacitated adult, according to a criminal complaint filed in Calhoun County Magistrate Court.

West Virginia State Police responded July 22 to a home in Grantsville regarding a dog bite. The patient had injuries to the legs, arms and head.

The patient, an incapacitated adult in the care of the state, told troopers Ferrell, his caretaker, struck him in the head repeatedly with several objects, including shaving cream cans and wasp spray, the complaint said. The patient also told troopers Ferrell picked up dog feces from the floor and wiped it on his face before having several large dogs attack him.

The patient said Ferrell had large dogs bite and scratch the man while he laid on the floor and begged her to stop, the complaint said.

The patient was transported to Roane County General Hospital.

Ferrell is currently being held in Central Regional Jail on a $25,000 property/surety bond.

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Court records: West Virginia caretaker forced large dogs to attack patient

Caretaker charged with bilking Whitinsville man of $195K

NORTHBRIDGE - A caretaker for an elderly man who is legally blind is facing charges after she wrote a check from his bank account to herself for $195,000, which the man said he never authorized.

Gloria S. Morvan, 61, of 51 High St. in the Whitinsville section of town, was arraigned April 25 in Uxbridge District Court on a charge of larceny of more than $250 from a person over 65 or disabled. She was released on personal recognizance, although her bank account was frozen and she was ordered to stay away from the victim. Ms. Morvan is scheduled to return to court May 30.

In a statement to Northbridge police, Ms. Morvan said the money was a gift from her client. “He said he wanted to help me because I helped him,” she told police. “He said he had more money than he knew what to do with it. I never asked for it.”

She told police she used the money to purchase a condominium at 51 High St., Whitinsville, for $160,000. An additional $15,000 went to pay closing and other legal costs and to refinish the first floor of the condo. The remaining roughly $20,000 was in her bank account.

Records from the Worcester County Registry of Deeds show that Ms. Morvan purchased the property with cash on Feb. 28. On April 6 the property was transferred from Ms. Morvan to the Gloria Morvan Trust.

According to court documents, Ms. Morvan had been working part-time as a caretaker since October for Harold Swart, 83, who lives in the Cotton Mill Apartments at 17 Douglas Road. Mr. Swart is legally blind and paid Ms. Morvan in cash to help him with chores such as paying bills and grocery shopping.

In the report prepared by Northbridge Patrolman Matthew Leonard, Mr. Swart told police that he would sign checks with Ms. Morvan’s assistance, through two sets of eyeglasses, and she would write the check out to whomever he was paying.

Mr. Swart told police he became suspicious of Ms. Morvan because she had helped him get a new ATM card and it never came in the mail. He asked an employee at the apartment complex to look at his Santander Bank statements and the employee noticed a $195,000 withdrawal and a check made out to Ms. Morvan in January.

The statement showed that the check had cleared after being deposited through the ATM at Bank of America in Uxbridge, although Ms. Morvan said she deposited the check inside the bank.

Mr. Swart also said he was missing a complete book of checks assigned to his account.

On April 20 Officer Leonard went to Worcester Superior Court to request Ms. Morvan’s bank records.

Lt. Timothy Labrie filed to freeze Ms. Morvan’s accounts and took a sworn statement from Mr. Swart that Ms. Morvan helped him write out checks for bills such as National Grid and cable TV but he never authorized her to write out the check to herself in the amount of $195,000.

Police arrested Ms. Morvan on April 24 at her condo.

Mr. Swart also told police that he owned a car, in which Ms. Morvan would drive him, but she had kept the car and wouldn’t give it back to him. Police returned the car to Mr. Swart.

Lt. Labrie said in an interview that Santander Bank, where Mr. Swart has his account, did not contact Mr. Swart to question the $195,000 personal check to Ms. Morvan, even though he had never signed a check for anything nearly that large.

Although Mr. Swart filed a claim of fraudulent activity directly with the bank, police have not heard yet whether Santander will cover the $195,000 loss to Mr. Swart.

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Caretaker charged with bilking Whitinsville man of $195K