Woman Stole From Alzheimer's Patient

Woman stole from Alzheimer's patient

She's charged with draining estate of Schuylkill nursing home resident.

By John J. Moser

 Of The Morning Call

February 14, 2009

In what Schuylkill County officials say is the largest fleecing of an elderly resident they've dealt with, a woman was charged Friday with bilking an 88-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease of nearly $200,000 over two years.

The thief had power of attorney for the victim, who lives in a nursing home, county detectives said.

Elizabeth M. DeLeon, 43, of Port Carbon was charged with draining so much from Margaret Palko's estate that it left Palko with just $47.20 in her checking account and $55,178 behind in paying for her care at Schuylkill Center Nursing Home in Norwegian Township, detectives said.

''In my 18 years on the bench, I've never seen one with such an exorbitant amount,'' District Judge David Plachko told DeLeon at her arraignment on two felony theft counts and one of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received. That, along with the victim's age, made it ''unthinkable,'' Plachko said.

The case, along with another in which a county couple this week was jailed for using an Alzheimer's patient's money, has prompted the district attorney to form a task force to deal with elderly financial abuse victims.

District Attorney James Goodman said that while the new case was the largest amount his office has seen, ''unfortunately, we're starting to see cases like this, with large amounts.''

Court papers say DeLeon was given Palko's power of attorney in July 2005 and controlled her finances. Six months later, Palko was put in the nursing home's secured dementia unit with a bank balance of $371,668.

Between then and May, 21, 2008, DeLeon wrote 129 checks for cash totaling $193,950, authorities say. When she bought a car in June 2007, DeLeon traded in Palko's car, which DeLeon had taken for herself the day before Palko entered the home. Police say DeLeon didn't have authority to do that.

In February 2008, DeLeon applied for medical assistance government benefits, which led to the investigation that uncovered the bilking, authorities said.

A District Attorney's Elder Abuse Unit has been created in Schuylkill County to investigate and prosecute ''those who cheat, deceive or abuse older residents.'' There are 34,800 people over age 65 in the county -- 24 percent of the population.

Detective Dolly Malec will work closely with the county Area Agency on Aging and Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance.

Anyone with information on crimes against the elderly can call the Area Agency on Aging at 800-832-3313 or Malec at 570-628-1359.

Abridged

SOURCE:      Allentown Morning Call - PA,USA

-------------------------------------------------

Click for Updates, More Cases and Resources