Everett caretaker arrested in theft from elderly man
Published: Thursday, July 3, 2008
By Jackson Holtz
Herald Writer
EVERETT -- When Michael Walsh, 85, complained to his children that he was being robbed by caretakers at an adult family home, they believed the great-great-grandfather's mind was clouded by dementia.
Then, after he died in February, Walsh's daughter saw something wrong with his bank account.
"I saw amounts that didn't look right to me," Margo Ward said.
Two days after Walsh died, someone cashed a $4,500 check.
On Tuesday, Maroja Nasution, 37, the Everett woman entrusted with Walsh's care, was arrested on suspicion of stealing thousands from the man.
Police believe Nasution, a licensed adult family home caregiver, stole and cashed at least five of Walsh's checks, totaling $17,150, according to a police affidavit.
"You never think somebody would do that," Walsh's son Steve said.
After the arrest Tuesday, state Department of Social and Health Services officials suspended Nasution's license for Kristina Sweet Home Care and closed the three Everett adult family homes the woman operated. Eight residents were moved to other adult care homes, said Julie Lord, a regional administrator for residential care services.
"We certainly don't want to see any vulnerable person financially exploited," Lord said.
State investigators weren't able to verify those complaints, Lord said. Still, they determined the residents at Kristina Sweet Home Care were at "imminent risk of harm," she said.
"The provider misappropriated money from the bank account of a former resident," according to a July 1 notice of summary suspension.
Detectives continue to investigate and believe there may be at least one other victim, Goetz said.
Nasution was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree theft, first-degree identity theft and five counts of forgery. She's being held on $45,000 bail.
Abridged
SOURCE: HeraldNet
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