Caregiver stole $78,000 from 96-year-old who has dementia, WA police say
A 58-year-old California woman has been arrested after she allegedly stole thousands of dollars from a 96-year-old victim in Centralia, police there announced on Wednesday.
The suspect has been booked into the Lewis County Jail on 10 counts of first-degree theft, one count of forgery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, Centralia police said in a news release.
Police allege the suspect has a multi-state criminal history involving fraud, forgery, theft, and identity-related offenses in California, Colorado, Oregon, Maryland, Michigan, and Nevada, with multiple aliases documented, the release reads.
Police last week began investigating after they responded to neighbor concerns and Adult Protective Services about the 96-year-old woman, who has been diagnosed with dementia and requires skilled nursing care.
The victim is considered a vulnerable adult under Washington state law, according to police.
The suspect had been acting as the victim’s caregiver and roommate since mid-2025 and obtained a durable power of attorney over the victim in September, police say.
“Shortly thereafter, (the suspect) transferred the deed to the victim’s Centralia home into her own name via a quitclaim deed, claiming it as a ‘gift,’” the release reads. “Bank records obtained with the victim’s consent showed that, after (the suspect) gained control of the accounts, approximately $78,000 was withdrawn or spent between September 2025 and March 2026, far exceeding the victim’s monthly income of roughly $8,000 from Social Security and pension benefits.”
Unauthorized transactions allegedly included:
- More than $21,400 in cash withdrawals.
- Tens of thousands of dollars in additional spending on horse-related items, dining out, travel, entertainment and digital money transfers to out-of-state individuals.
- Recurring charges inconsistent with the victim’s situation as a nursing-home resident without a vehicle or livestock.
The victim allegedly told detectives she did not authorize any large withdrawals and believed the power of attorney and property transfer were intended only to allow the suspect to handle household bills and for inheritance after the victim’s death, according to the release.
Police say the incident remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Centralia police at 360-330-7680.
