A Vancouver woman is accused of stealing more than $60,000 from an 85-year-old man for whom she served as a caregiver.
Patti Jo McGregor, 59, appeared in Clark County Superior Court on Thursday on suspicion of first-degree theft.
According to court documents, McGregor tricked the victim, Harold Thompson, into signing off on the purchase of a $63,000 annuity in McGregor’s name in February 2010. The annuity was purchased with the proceeds of a reverse mortgage on Thompson’s residence, according to a court declaration by Deputy Prosecutor Scott Ikata.
“Harold expected to receive payments from this annuity, which he thought was a risk-free savings and investment,” Ikata wrote.
When he received nothing, he contacted his sister, Erma Winteroth, and expressed his concern.
“Erma realized that Harold had no idea what he signed and discovered that the annuity was in the name of Patti McGregor,” Ikata wrote.
McGregor had lived in Thompson’s home for about nine years and was his caregiver, the document says.
Winteroth confronted McGregor and told her she had to return the money to Thompson, Ikata wrote. McGregor agreed to cash the annuity and return the money, he wrote. However, after she cashed the annuity, she fled from Thompson’s home in his vehicle, the document says. Her whereabouts were unknown until Clark County sheriff’s deputies served her with an arrest warrant Wednesday.
McGregor reported to court staff that she is homeless, according to court documents.
Judge Suzan Clark held McGregor in the Clark County Jail on Thursday in lieu of $75,000 bail and appointed Vancouver-based Grecco Downs law firm to defend her.
She is scheduled to be arraigned on the charge Jan. 16.
