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Last updated on Friday, January 8, 2016
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Investigators say the neighbor of an 89-year-old man gained his trust, and then gained access to his bank account and nearly emptied it.
Marion County Prosecutor Cindy Oetjen says the man had no idea that 57-year-old Maxine McDaniel was removing funds from his account.
Prosecutors say McDaniel, who lived at Cestwood South Apartments almost got away with stealing more than $50,000 from the man, who had no family and whose health is starting to decline.
Police say McDaniel says when the man's caregivers went out of town she took him to an attorney and made herself his power of attorney. She then immediately cut her neighbor off from his friends and started cutting herself checks from his bank account.
She even allegedly pawned his Masonic ring.
According to the probable cause affidavit, McDaniel started visiting ATMs as soon as she became power of attorney and withdrew the maximum amount almost every day from August until October to the tune of $50,465.
When the man's caregivers returned, they could not find him. He had a medical issue that left him in the hospital and his phone had been disconnected.
When they finally did reach him, they told investigators McDaniel refused to allow them to speak to their friend alone.
McDaniel was arrested on felony charges of theft and exploitation of an elderly adult.
If convicted, McDaniel could face up to eight years in prison. Prosecutors say they can try to file for restitution, but there is little hope of ever recovering the more than $50,000 that was lost in the case.
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