Daughter accused of bilking elderly Milwaukie woman of $224,000
By Rick Bella, The Oregonian
March 26, 2010
A La Pine woman has been charged with bilking her elderly mother out of more than $224,000 over a five-month period, leaving the Milwaukie woman destitute.
Janet Gay Durkee, 61, is being held at the Clackamas County Jail on felony charges of first-degree aggravated theft and first-degree criminal mistreatment. Bail is set at $40,000.
Officer Ulli Neitch, Milwaukie police spokeswoman, said officers received a tip in September from the Oregon Department of Human Services that something seemed amiss with the finances of 85-year-old Geneva E. Smith of Milwaukie. She said detectives learned that Durkee, formerly a state-certified nursing assistant, moved from La Pine to live with her mother in Milwaukie after she suffered serious injuries in a fall and no longer was able to care for herself. After a few months, Durkee moved Smith into an assisted-living center, then moved back to La Pine.
During their investigation, police concluded that Durkee had cleaned out her mother's assets.
"It was discovered the elderly victim had been bilked out of her life's savings -- and a large sum of property," Neitch said.
Durkee was arrested Thursday at the Clackamas County Courthouse, where she was involved in a civil lawsuit.
"Not only as a police agency, but also as a community, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of people most vulnerable to financial exploitation, and other abuses," Neitch said.
During its 2009 session, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2442, which established broader mandatory reporting requirements in cases of possible elder abuse or exploitation of disabled adults. More information on House Bill 2442-B can be found on the Oregon State web site.
SOURCE: OREGON LIVE
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