LAUDERDALE CO., Ala. (WAFF) - A Lauderdale County man is in the hospital while his daughter is charged with elder abuse.
Investigators
say the man was not being properly taken care of. Now he’s in the ICU
waiting on multiple surgeries to fix what’s wrong.
Lauderdale County investigators tell me this is up there with one of the worst cases of elder abuse that they’ve seen.
“The sooner you can say something, the more we can probably help out the victims,” Sergeant Jordan Craig said.
On around June 10, investigators were called to the hospital to check in on an elderly man.
When they got there, they could clearly see someone who needed help.
“Some
pretty severe infections from some bed sores and what appear to be
other injuries,” Sgt. Craig said. “Nothing that appears to be actual
physical abuse just lack of care. Which can be just as bad. Yes.”
Court
records state that the man fell and got stuck between furniture for
almost an hour before someone other than his caregiver took him to the
hospital.
He’s bedbound so he relies on his caregiver for everything: bathing, eating and using the restroom.
And his caregiver was his own daughter and power of attorney.
“Unfortunately
a lot of the time these cases go unreported because of that,” Craig
said. “Because the only people that see them is their caregiver.
And
to combat that, Lauderdale County Sergeant Jordan Craig suggests
checking in on them yourself or calling for a welfare check.
There are some things to look out for.
“Lack
of proper care, malnourishment, lack of treatment,” Craig said. “A lot
of time these patients are bedridden so they need to be turned so they
don’t get bed sores. They need to have their food to be brought to
them.”
According to court records, the
person who found the victim made sure to stop at multiple ATMs to
withdraw money for the victim’s daughter, before dropping him off at the
hospital.
Sergeant Craig said they are still investigating further to see.
Ruta Hagmann has said those words every single morning for as long as she can remember. In July, she’ll turn 102.
For Hagmann, the morning mantra isn’t just habit — it’s philosophy. “Attitude is everything,” she tells TODAY.com.
Walking,
eating balanced meals and taking supplements have always been essential
to Hagmann’s routine. But the key to longevity, she says, is equally
prioritizing a positive mindset.
Here’s what the centenarian has to say about living a long, happy and full life.
Ruta Hagmann will turn 102 years old in July 2026.Courtesy Ruta Hagmann
Stay Positive
Hagmann
has lived through more than a century of change — but she doesn’t
attribute her positivity to a life without hardship. Instead, it comes
down to her perspective.
Hagmann
was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924, and was raised on the West
Coast in Southern California from age five onward. In 1944, she
graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she was a
dedicated member of the Alpha Phi sorority.
After
marrying David Hagmann, a Navy Lieutenant during World War II and
fellow UCLA Bruin, the couple settled down in Orinda, California, in the
San Francisco Bay Area, and raised three children.
Even when life got complicated, Hagmann still chose gratitude, she says.
“I’m just thankful for every day,” Hagmann says. “I don’t know what tomorrow brings, so I just appreciate what I have today.”
And
for Hagmann, expressing that gratitude out loud and often is key. “I’m
luckier than I thought I would be; I’m so fortunate,” she says.
Let Love Take Root
When Hagmann looks back on her life, the thing she’s proudest of is simple: “Having a wonderful marriage and children.”
In
the home where they raised their children, her husband built Hagmann a
greenhouse in the backyard for her to pursue her love of gardening.
There, Hagmann cultivated her award-winning orchids —many of which her
daughter, Valerie Nealis, 72, still cares for today.
Her
husband also raised camellias alongside Hagmann’s orchids. For a time,
he served as president of the Northern California Camellia Society and
developed a hybrid of his very own: the award-winning “Ruta Hagmann”
camellia.
Eventually, the
greenhouse became more than a hobby space. It was a tangible expression
of the couple’s love and care for one another.
Ruth Hagmann is known for her green thumb.Courtesy Ruta Hagmann
Through gardening, Hagmann also developed an important perspective on life, she says.
“(A
plant) has its time just like we have our life, and (when) it’s time to
go, and you have to let go and be grateful for the time you had,” she
says.
That outlook helps her
navigate both joy and grief, grounding her in appreciation for the time
she shares with loved ones, even when it’s limited.
Ruth Hagmann's husband built her the greenhouse that fueled her love for gardening and flowers.Courtesy Ruta Hagmann
Commit to Community
Beyond her family, Hagmann has always felt a strong sense of responsibility to her community.
Ruth Hagmann partly credits community for her longevity.Courtesy Ruta Hagmann
“As
my parents said, it was very important that you appreciate your
community,” she says. “You’re fortunate enough to be there and
contribute.”
Hagmann was
involved in philanthropy as an Alpha Phi throughout college. Later, she
became an avid fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital and organized
events including fashion shows and dinners. Occasionally, Hagmann would
even model in the shows herself, Nealis recalls.
In
1973, she received one of the Women of the Year awards from Children’s
Hospital Branches, Inc. for her fundraising efforts for the Oakland
branch.
In her seventies,
Hagmann also found a way to channel her gardening skills into community
service and stepped into the role of Orinda Garden Club president.
Looking back, she sees paying it forward as an important part of a life well lived.
“I
just feel so blessed with all of the wonderful things that have
happened to me during my life, and enabled me to participate and be a
part of.”
Ray Svejnoha’s community surprised him with everything he needed for the high school milestone.
by Aryelle Siclait
When attending his first prom at age 100 last month, Ray Svejnoha noticed how differently teens dance these days.
“During
my time, when we danced with a girl, we held her,” Svenjnoha tells
TODAY.com. “They danced in a circle of about 20 people and jumped up and
down like little bunnies.”
“And
the noise, my God, I couldn’t recognize the songs at all, but that’s
the way it is,” he laughs. It was one of the best nights of his life.
Svenjnoha
is a resident at Independence Village of Naperville, a senior living
facility in Illinois. He didn’t get to go to his prom. “I left for the
service,” he recalls.
He was
drafted into the Air Force during World War II with three months left in
high school. Although he was able to graduate, he missed out on some
milestones. He never thought much about having missed his prom, but six
high school students — girls who volunteer at the senior living facility
and teach residents how to use their smartphones — wanted to do
something special for him.
They teamed up with Independence Village staff to surprise Svenjnoha with a prom night he’d never forget.
Teens
who volunteered to teach seniors how to use their smartphones surprised
100-year-old Ray Svenjnoha by taking him to the prom since he missed
his own.Courtesy Ray Svejnoha
Local
businesses donated a trolley, flowers and styled Svenjnoha’s prom
haircut. Everything, he says, was taken care of. “It was really great.
It was one of the nicest things that’s happened.”
The
night was an homage to Svenjnoha’s rich social life and his love of
chit-chat — both of which he’s said have contributed to his long life.
He spoke with TODAY.com as part of the Incredible Centenarians series to share some other secrets to his longevity.
Fall in Love
“I had a terrific marriage,” says Svenjnoha. “I brag about it constantly.”
He
boasts of their teamwork, raising their two sons “who grew up to be
great men,” how they instantly clicked when his sister introduced them,
and how his wife would catch more fish than him, though she was less
experienced at the sport — but “that was to be expected,” he says.
Before
she died from cancer, she threatened Svenjnoha: She’d haunt him if he
didn’t keep living, maintaining his friendships and relationships. So,
he did.
Ray Svejnoha missed his prom because he was drafted into the Air Force.Courtesy Ray Svejnoha
Invest in Your Friendships
“It seems like I can make friends with anybody,” says Svenjnoha. “This is what God put me on this earth for.”
He plays bingo and bunco daily with his fellow residents and says hi to every new face.
Whatever
programming the senior center has planned for the day, Svenjnoha says
he’s game to interact with whoever’s there, approaching it all with
positivity.
“If you’re going
to be grouchy, don’t talk to me because I have no room for that,” he
says. “I’ve got plenty of room to laugh and kid and do things like that
and enjoy (myself).”
Do Work You’re Proud Of
Svenjnoha
started training to be an electrician as a teen. His neighbor growing
up enlisted the help of neighborhood kids interested in learning the
trade. When his neighbor joined the local union, Svenjnoha joined, too.
“This was my call,” says Svenjnoha.
Ray Svejnoha met his wife and worked as an electrician when he returned from the Air Force.Courtesy Ray Svejnoha
Move Your Body
Except for a recurring ache in his left leg, “I feel like a 20-year-old,” says Svenjnoha.
He’s
tried various treatments to soothe the pain, but nothing helps. “I’ll
just grin and bear it,” he says. He can’t give up movement, least of all
dancing.
“Dancing was my
best treat,” he says. “I used to love to dance.” And because it doesn’t
happen too often these days, he’ll do it any chance he gets. Prom was
his moment. “There were 25 girls in a circle, and we were dancing,” he
recalls. “It was on TV, by God.”
His granddaughter in Anchorage, Alaska, called to tell him she’d spotted a clip of him on the dance floor captured by Naperville Community Television.
Independence
Village of Naperville, the local Rotary Club and the high school
students who got to know Ray Svejnoha had a trolley, flowers and
Svejnoha's haircut gifted to him.Courtesy Ray Svejnoha
For
30 years, Svenjnoha taught swimming to children and adults with
arthritis at the local pool. He swam with his kids in his backyard pool
he’d invite the neighbors to use. He also took the neighborhood kids and
his children fishing. And a friend taught him how to play tennis.
A Southern California caregiver – tasked with caring for a family’s
80-year-old mom – will finally have her day in court, more than a year
after dozens of videos posted on TikTok documented months of alleged horrific abuse.
During a hearing in Bakersfield this week, the judge denied a mental
health diversion request by caregiver Julie Rothgeb after the terrible
acts of her alleged abuse were exposed in more than 50 Ring videos posted on social media generating tens of millions of views.
Rothgeb is facing one misdemeanor count of assault and battery of elder or dependent adult abuse, according to documents obtained by The California Post.
A Southern California caregiver-tasked-with caring for a family’s 80-year-old mom will finally have to face trial. ABC23
Julie Rothgeb is facing one misdemeanor count of assault and battery.
Kern County DA said at the last court hearing, the judge dealt with
the caregiver’s attorney’s mental health diversion filing in an effort
to bypass trial and go straight to treatment. However, the judge
ultimately denied it following the DA’s opposition.
The abuse includes allegations of “smacking” the elderly woman with a
flyswatter, emotional, verbal and other physical abuse. There were also
allegations that the caregiver forced the older woman to exercise for
hours at a time while she was wearing weights on her ankles and wrists, 23ABC in Bakersfield reported.
Windy Duenas, the victim’s daughter, called the wait for justice
“frustrating” noting that “every time there was a court date it was
continued.”
Windy Duenas, the victim’s daughter,
called the wait for justice “frustrating” noting that “every time there
was a court date it was continued.” TIKTOK/@windy_duenas1
“We just feel like there’s no rights for the victim and that
everything about this case has been minimized down to nothing, and I
have just lost faith in the justice system,” Duenas told the outlet.
“I am upset that we’re here. I am upset that these are the
possibilities that are on the table for something so serious and with so
much evidence.”
The family said when they first tried to pursue charges against
Rothgeb the DA told the daughter there was insufficient evidence,
according to the outlet.
“There’s over 50 videos that they had at the time of saying there wasn’t sufficient evidence,” Duenas previously said.
The abuse includes allegations of emotional, verbal and other physical abuse. TikTok/@Wendy_duenes1
A jury trial date has now been set for June 29, 2026. ABC23
In 2025, a new DA reversed course, citing more evidence obtained
through additional videos and statements, opting to charge Rothgeb with a
misdemeanor, per the report.
“And later, for the same evidence they had the first time, they now
say it’s worth going in for a misdemeanor — when it meets all the
elements of several felony charges,” Duenas said.
Jeremy Oliver with Kern County Adult and Aging Services said his
department investigated thousands of cases of elder abuse last year with
dozens more that he said go unreported, per the report.
A jury trial date has now been set for June 29, 2026.
The Post reached out to the county’s Adult and Aging services for further comment.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Albuquerque police say
a 27-year-old woman stole $5,883 from a bedridden older man she was
hired to care for.
Police say Gloria
Flores faces fraud charges after investigators said she used the man’s
credit card for charges at GEICO, Discount Tire and Albertsons.
Sally
Linhart, the victim’s daughter, said she learned about the charges
after her father’s landlord checked his mail when Flores stopped working
in his apartment.
“She’d been using the credit card and the statements had been coming in the mail, so she was intercepting those.” said Linhart.
Linhart said she lives eight hours away in Oklahoma and said Flores admitted through text messages that she took the money.
“I’m
going to give you this opportunity. Just admit what you’ve done, pay us
back, and it’ll be a lesson learned for you,” said Linhart. However,
Linhart said Flores wouldn’t do it.
Linhart
said the case felt familiar because someone else stole from her father
about three or four years ago and later paid the money back over about
12 months.
“I want to say, three or
four years ago, and same thing happened. I contacted the girl, and I
said, I know what you’ve done, and she said, please do not call the
police. Please do not press charges. I will pay you back. And she did,
and so she paid my father back over the course of about 12 months.” said
Linhart.
New Mexico Aging Services says elder abuse can take different forms and says the number of cases is not going away.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation says $55 million were lost to elder fraud scams in New Mexico in 2025.
Legislation sponsored by Senator Carmen Amato, Jr.
(R-Ocean) to increase criminal penalties for identity theft crimes
committed against senior citizens and veterans was approved by the New
Jersey Senate. Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre
have introduced the companion bill, A-1749.
S-1526 strengthens
penalties for individuals who steal personal identifying information
from these vulnerable populations or target records maintained by
retirement communities, nursing homes, and veterans' facilities.
"Identity
theft can devastate a person's finances, reputation, and sense of
security, and seniors and veterans are often among the most vulnerable
targets," said Senator Amato. "My legislative district is home to a
large population of seniors who have worked their entire lives to build
financial stability. They deserve stronger protections and the assurance
that New Jersey's laws will hold criminals accountable when they prey
on vulnerable residents."
Under the bill, identity theft offenses
involving senior citizens or veterans would be elevated to higher-degree
crimes, resulting in tougher penalties and longer potential prison
sentences. The bill also increases penalties for individuals who
unlawfully obtain, manufacture, or distribute personal identifying
information taken from records maintained by retirement and long-term
care facilities, as well as veterans' facilities.
The legislation has bipartisan support with Senator Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen, Passaic) as Second Prime Sponsor.
CROWLEY, LA. (KLFY) — Kaplan woman faces 30 counts of exploitation of an elderly man, police said.
Brittani Abshire, 39, of Kaplan was arrested and charged with 30 counts of exploitation of the infirm.
Police reported the elderly person, suffering with dementia, was
under the care of Abshire. Evidence later revealed Abshire allegedly
seized their assets and stole their money.
Abshire faced $100,000 bond and has been transported to the Acadia Parish Jail.
Help her with investments to make sure her money would last.
Instead,
he siphoned more than $300,000 from the 90-year-old woman’s accounts.
Rather than pay her bills, he used the funds to pay his own, prosecutors
alleged.
What John Boston, once a legit financial advisor from Verona, did to his victim is a classic case of elder fraud.
He’s
now facing five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to
$150,000 after his convictions for theft, prosecutors said. Sentencing
is later this summer.
“Cases
like this demonstrate the devastating impact financial exploitation can
have on older adults and their families,” Acting Insurance Fraud
Prosecutor Bernard Cooney said in a statement.
The Attorney General’s Office spotlighted the case last week in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
The victim was newly flush with cash after inheriting “substantial assets” when her brother died.
Prosecutors
alleged Boston, 50, signed a contract with the victim to manage her
assets and her financial affairs. He was indeed a registered financial
adviser, but he never told his employer, and he never registered the
woman as a client — as required by the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, or FINRA.
He
convinced the woman to give him a durable financial power of attorney, a
document to grant permission to a trusted person to manage your money
if you’re ever incapacitated and unable to make your own financial
decisions.
Instead
of working for her best interests, Boston took out funds through a
series of ATM withdrawals, bank transfers and other transactions,
prosecutors said. He diverted her Social Security benefits for his own
personal use, they said.
It took less than two years.
Elder
abuse can come in many forms, but we’re going to stick to financial
exploitation here. It causes $28.3 billion in losses annually, a
staggering number reported by the National Council on Aging. It defines elder abuse as “an intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult.”
Elder financial abuse can happen to anybody, and it’s not only traditional scammers at work.
“Perpetrators can range from close family, extended family, caregiving staff, or strangers,” according to the New Jersey State Library.
“They may take money without permission, fail to repay money they owe,
charge too much for services, or not do what they were paid to do.”
Elder financial abuse is vastly underreported, the National Adult Protective Services Association said.
Only
one in 44 cases is actually reported, it said, and 90% of cases involve
family members or others who are trusted — like a trusted financial
advisor.
People often don’t report financial losses from fraud because they’re embarrassed. We’ve seen that happen time and time again.
But you can help to protect your loved ones by looking out for some red flags. These 14 warning signs are offered by the American Bankers Association. Look out for:
Unusual activity in an older person’s bank accounts, including large, frequent or unexplained withdrawals
Changing from a basic account to one that offers more complicated services the customer does not fully understand or need
Withdrawals from bank accounts or transfers between accounts the customer cannot explain
A new “best friend” accompanying an older person to the bank
Sudden non-sufficient fund activity or unpaid bills
Closing CDs or accounts without regard to penalties
Uncharacteristic attempts to wire large sums of money
Suspicious signatures on checks, or outright forgery
Confusion, fear or lack of awareness on the part of an older customer
Checks written as “loans” or “gifts”
Bank statements that no longer go to the customer’s home
New powers of attorney the older person does not understand
A
caretaker, relative or friend who suddenly begins conducting financial
transactions on behalf of an older person without proper documentation
Altered wills and trusts
If you see something suspicious, you can report it to several different agencies.
The
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit handles cases involving Medicaid recipients
and fraud, theft, or abuse in health care settings. You can email NJMFCU@njdcj.org or call (609) 292-1272. The state Long-Term Care Ombudsman will handle exploitation in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Call 1-877-582-6995 or email ombudsman@ltco.nj.gov.
Let’s all work to help prevent fraud and take care of our loved ones and neighbors.
From complaints about being forced to lay in their own feces to serious medical mistakes, our I-Team investigation finds concerning conditions at Safire Care Rehabilitation Center in South Buffalo
