Arsonist Receives Lengthy Sentence In San Diego Elder Abuse Case (CA. USA)

February 8, 6:49 PM

San Diego Crime Examiner

By Steve Perez

A 54-year-old San Diego woman was sentenced Monday to 19 years and four months in state prison for setting a series of fires aimed at nursing home residents.

The sentence for Mary Louise Wilson was announced by Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. It's reportedly the longest prison term associated with an elder abuse case in California prosecuted by that office.

The case began in August of last year, when Brown's office joined in a probe with National City firefighters and El Cajon police officers, state prosecutors said.

In January 2009, Wilson resided at El Dorado Care Center in El Cajon. She lived in a room with two other women who were unable to get in or out of bed without nursing help. One of the women was attached to an oxygen tank, state prosecutors said.

One night, a fire broke out in one of the women's bed. A nurse heard the smoke alarm and used a fire extinguisher to put it out before anyone was hurt.

Wilson was eventually transferred to Golden Paradise Senior Living, an assisted living center in National City.

Soon after she arrived, Wilson set fires in a trash chute, dumpster and the library. She also threw burning materials down the trash chute, prosecutors said.

Firefighters and the building's sprinkler system put out the blazes before anyone was hurt.

Abridged
SOURCE:     The Examiner
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When Old Age Isn't Golden (ISRAEL)

BY JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

07/02/2010

In Israel, as in many countries that no longer venerate the aged, neglect and abuse can even be fatal.

They spent nights and days caring for their children – feeding, bathing and dressing them, and nursing them back to health when they were ill. They invested a few decades in caring for others. But when elderly Israelis lose their health, strength and/or mental abilities, almost a fifth of them suffer some kind of neglect or abuse at the hands of their children, spouse or other caregiver. 
As many societies lose their veneration of the old, elder abuse has begun to creep in, but it was not recognized by the social welfare or law enforcement authorities until recent decades. If a country is judged by the treatment given its weakest elements, surely verbal, physical, social, psychological, financial, criminal and even sexual abuse of the aged is a black mark. 
Elder abuse was among the subjects raised at the 10th annual conference of Nefesh-Israel, a voluntary organization of observant social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and others headed by Dr. Judith Guedalia and Leah Rosen. The conference was held recently at the Jerusalem Michlalah.  


“Elder abuse occurs in every community and culture. It can be active or passive neglect, such as making sure the refrigerator is almost empty,” said Halperin. She presented a heartrending, 30-minute, Hebrew film made by Yohanan Veller about a serious but fictional case of elder abuse that begins happily.


Abridged
SOURCE:     The Jerusalem Post 
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Madison County Mission: Stop Elder Abuse Before Happens (USA)

Panel formed to stem cases of violence

By Ken West

 February 7, 2010

As a county Sheriff's Department detective and coroner, Stephen P. Nonn has seen some pretty gruesome crimes over his 30-year career. Now, Nonn is trying to stop crimes before they happen among one especially vulnerable slice of the population: the elderly.

"They're easy targets. Someone has to be there to speak for them. By the time my office gets involved, it's too late," said Nonn, the Madison County coroner since 2000.

Nonn and a group of health care, law enforcement and social service professionals have formed the Elder Abuse-Fatality Review Team, a kind of oversight panel to make sure the county's 26,000 elderly aren't being abused. They met for the first time last month.

The goal is to recognize abuse before someone is killed or injured and, in the event a death happens, to see how it could have been prevented. The effort will train health care workers and others to look for signs of abuse. Additionally, every funeral home in the county has a volunteer deputy coroner trained to spot for problems.

"They are my eyes and ears out there," he said.

Nonn said the group will teach the signs of abuse or exploitation.


The team will meet once a month to review cases. When there are no cases to review, Nonn said, they'll work on training.
"Not every case will be a criminal case, but there will be cases when things could have gone better," Nonn said. "We hope to create enough safeguards to protect the elderly."

Abridged
SOURCE:    The Suburban Journals
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Napa Approves Protection Law for the Elderly (CA. USA)

By ALISHA WYMAN, Register Staff Writer

February 5, 2010  

The city of Napa has signed onto an effort to require criminal background checks for those who care for the elderly.

Napa City Council members voted to draft an ordinance Tuesday, following a presentation on the issue from the Napa County Commission on Aging and Napa County district attorney’s office officials.

Under the proposed ordinance, anyone who receives any kind of compensation for caring for elders or dependent adults would have to apply for a permit. They would undergo a background check before their permit is approved.

The commission is making presentations to the county and other Napa Valley cities, as well. If advocates are successful, Napa County and its cities would be the first in the state to enact such a measure.

The goal of the ordinance is to prevent physical abuse, embezzlement and other crimes by caretakers, said Napa County District Attorney Gary Lieberstein.

Under the commission’s plan, applicants would seek for a permit through the Napa-Solano Area Agency on Aging, which would contract a third party to complete background checks. The Napa County Clerk’s office would issue permits to those who passed the background checks.

Those who fail could still work under a restricted permit if the elder or dependent adult consented and signed a notarized form.

Abridged
SOURCE:    The Napa Valley Register

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Teller Pleads Not Guilty to Elder Abuse (CA. USA)

Teller pleads not guilty to elder abuse

By: BRENT BEGIN 
Examiner Staff Writer February 5, 2010

A former Bank of America teller pleaded not guilty Thursday to allegedly creating a bank account for a 96-year-old woman and then siphoning $60,000 out of it.

Saul Cornejo, a 25-year-old Daly City resident, was arrested this week on suspicion of felony elder abuse and grand theft. 

Cornejo worked as a teller at the Bank of America at 5150 Mission St., where Eunice Mongan was a customer. He allegedly convinced Mongan to open an account to which he had access so he could be her personal banker and help pay her bills.

Between July 2008 and August 2009, Cornejo opened new accounts in Mongan’s name, transferred her money into the new accounts and then withdrew the cash for his own use, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

SOURCE:     The San Francisco Examiner
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"Worst Case of Elder Abuse" Ever in Madera (CA. USA)

By: Ashley Ritchie
February 5, 2010


26–year–old Stephanie Hernandez was escorted away in handcuffs after being accused of what Madera authorities describe as months of neglect and abuse.
"I've never seen a case like this before," Madera County District Attorney Michael Keitz said.
Back in December, Madera police were called to the home of 90–year–old Maria Lopez, who had died by the time they got there.
"When the police department got into the residence and started looking at it, they realized that it's the potential for elder abuse type of case," Keitz said.
According to the Madera Tribune, autopsy reports indicate Lopez was emaciated and weighed just 35 pounds when she was found dead in a fetal position, covered in open bed sores; some so deep they exposed muscle and hip bones.
"It must've been going on for quite some time," Keitz said.
Her caregiver and great niece, Stephanie Hernandez was arrested Wednesday afternoon.
"These kinds of crimes are something that I take and the Madera County District Attorney's office takes very seriously. And we will do whatever we can to prosecute them to the fullest," Keitz said.
Hernandez is charged with elder abuse, involuntary manslaughter, perjury and forgery.
Her three–year–old child was turned over to Child Protective Services after she was arrested.
And she was allegedly being paid about $900 a month to take care of her great aunt as an in–home–care provider.
Hernandez is set to be arraigned in Madera County court Friday.



SOURCE:     KMPH.COM
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Second Man Charged in Genesee County's Largest Elder Abuse Case (Michigan, USA)

By Laura Angus | Flint Journal

February 04, 2010,

A second person has been accused of scheming to embezzle more than $1 million from a prominent local rheumatologist who also served as assistant dean at the Michigan State University Medical School.

Steven B. Neil, 30, of Flint Township has been charged with embezzlement in what is believed to be the largest case of alleged financial exploitation ever investigated by the Genesee County elder abuse task.

His wife, Andrea R. Neil, 30, was charged with elder abuse and embezzlement in the case in December.

The Neils were paid $2,200 a week to provide care and mow the lawn for Dr. Dorothy Mulkey, 73, of Flushing, but are believed to have stolen more than $1 million from her during the years Andrea Neil was employed as a caretaker, said Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.

Steven Neil is accused of obtaining a signature on a financial document by fraud when they allegedly made Mulkey cash in an IRA worth $898,000 — which cost Mulkey about $365,000 in penalties — so the couple could buy a home in California, Pickell said. 

The couple also had $78,000 worth of precious metals and coins that belonged to the doctor in their home, and investigators believe Steven Neil took the coins from Mulkey’s Flushing home, said Pickell.

Neil is expected in court Friday, and Andrea Neil’s next pre-trial hearing is scheduled for next Thursday.

For assistance with the care of an elder, information about services or to report a concern, call (810) 762-4022.

SOURCE:     MLIVE
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Police Name Suspect In Frauds Against Seniors (CANADA)

Man alleged to have preyed on people aged 78 to 95

January 25, 2010

Toronto police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a man believed to have victimized 20 elderly people across the country.

Richard Earl Rupert, 54, is wanted in Toronto and a number of other cities in southern Ontario, as well as in Ottawa, Calgary and West Vancouver, on charges of robbery, fraud and attempted fraud.

The suspect was spotted in Toronto in early December. Since then police have received a number of tips about additional alleged victims in other parts of the country.

Police say Rupert visited retirement homes where he befriended elderly residents, telling them he was a distant relative and persuading them to provide him with money.

Between January 2008 and November 2009, "there have been 20 victims, ranging in age from 78 to 95, with an average age of 81," said a news release Monday from Toronto police.

Police say the suspect is "polite, well-mannered and well-spoken." Although he has used many aliases, police say, he usually uses the first name Richard.

He is described as white, standing 5-5" to 5-6", weighing between 140 and 160 pounds, with short greying dirty-blonde hair with a receding hairline. According to the news release he has "a reddish complexion, with chiselled cheekbones, hazel eyes and is usually clean-shaven."

SOURCE:   CBC, CA
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Madison County Team Targets Abuse, Neglect of Elderly (IL. USA)

By Terry Hillig

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

02.03.2010

A new interagency and multi-disciplinary team has been established in Madison County to review cases of alleged or suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of older people.

The Madison County Elder Abuse-Fatality Review Team was organized by Coroner Steve Nonn and is the first effort of its kind in the Metro East area and only the second in Illinois. It was organized in coordination with the Illinois Department on Aging.

“We see this team as having two primary benefits,” Nonn said. “First and foremost, several sets of eyes are looking at a case with each individual viewing it from a different perspective. Second, it serves as a remarkable information-gathering tool that enables us to discover gaps in the system and services provided for our senior population.”

The 12-member team is chaired by Maryville Police Chief Richard Schardan and includes members of the law enforcement and health care communities.

Nonn said the elderly and the very young are the two age groups most vulnerable to abuse. He said the county has had a child fatality review team for many years.

SOURCE:   STLTODAY
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Hernando County - Elder Abuse Hotline (USA)

Hernando County health and support information

By Phyllis Day, Times Staff Writer
February 4, 2010

Elder Abuse Hotline:

To report suspected cases of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, or those 60 or older who are being hurt or taken advantage of by someone you know, call toll-free 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) or 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873).

Sponsored by the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

SOURCE:    TAMPA BAY.COM

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