Police: Woman stole $160K from elderly 'friend'

SHENANDOAH - A 37-year-old Girardville woman was charged Tuesday with stealing more than $160,000 over a two-year period from an elderly woman she befriended.

Michelle A. Connors, 243 W. Preston Ave., turned herself in to Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker and was arraigned on two felony counts each of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

Connors was released after a friend posted $5,000, or 10 percent of the $50,000 bail set by Kilker.

A preliminary hearing on the charges was scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 18 at Kilker's Shenandoah court.

Connors was arrested by Shenandoah police Patrolman Joseph Hall and Dolores Malec of the Schuylkill County District Attorney's Elder Abuse Unit and charged with taking the money over a two-year period between November 2006 and September 2008.

Investigators said that the thefts occurred while O'Connor had power of attorney for Mary O'Connell, now 90 years old.

Hall said that in November 2006, Connors took over the woman's assets that totaled $222,692 and had control of the money until Sept. 11, 2008.

During that time, both Hall and Malec said Connors, who befriended O'Connor when she was a resident of a nursing facility where Connors worked, purchased items including a camera, computer and a cellular telephone from the woman's account

Connors also made numerous ATM withdrawals and large counter withdrawals from the bank, including $5,000 that she used to fix a roof, Hall said.

He added that Connors also withdrew $10,000 she said was to prepay for O'Connell's funeral. The funeral cost $7,110 and Hall said Connors never returned the remaining $2,890.

In all, Hall said Connors stole $160,468 in addition to the money never returned after paying for the funeral.

District Attorney James P. Goodman said Tuesday's arrest is the third major arrest made by the Elder Abuse Unit since its inception.

Earlier this year, Elizabeth Deleon, 110 N. Front St., Port Carbon, pleaded guilty to stealing and misappropriating $197,3590 as power of attorney for Margaret Palko, who was 88 at the time.

Deleon pleaded guilty in September and is scheduled to be sentenced next week in Schuylkill County Court.

Malec said Deleon withdrew a total of $197,359 from various bank accounts and annuities of the woman who was a resident in the Dementia Unit at Schuylkill Center Nursing Home in Norwegian Township.

An additional theft count was filed for Deleon trading in a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier owned by the victim and then using the $6,810 toward the purchase of a 2007 Pontiac Vibe she bought as a gift for herself, Malec said.

The second case involved Arthur Deiter, 52, of Pottsville, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Joanne Weider, 69, of Pottsville, who died in February.

Goodman said that in that case, Deiter neglected the woman while he was living in the same home.

Deiter is also scheduled to be sentenced next week after pleading guilty in September.

An autopsy performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Richard Bindie determined that although Weider's death was natural, it could have been prevented if medical attention was sought for her during the weeks preceding her death.

Bindie reported that "the causes of Joanne Weider's death were preventable if medical attention was sought," Pottsville police said.

After Connors' arraignment, Goodman said that elderly residents are prime targets for people wanting to take advantage of them and the money they have earned over their entire lives.

He said Connors and Deleon took a power of attorney and "used it as a license to steal from an elderly person."

Both Deiter and Deleon will appear at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 28 to see what punishment will be handed down.