DELAND, Fla. – An in-home caretaker has been accused of exploiting an elderly DeLand couple, raking in up to $100,000, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
In an affidavit, deputies said that they first received a report about the potential fraud back in January.
The complaint was filed by a man who claimed his sister and her 88-year-old husband — the latter of whom suffered from dementia and was confined to a medical bed in their home — had hired the caretaker a few years ago to provide in-home care, deputies added.
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According to investigators, the caretaker — identified as Yvonne Wroblewski, 56 — was trusted with access to the couple’s computer, home office and financial information.
The affidavit shows that the elderly couple’s family noticed strange issues with their finances in the years after Wroblewski was hired, such as credit cards being declined and unusual purchases on bank statements.
It was also revealed that Wroblewski had added herself to the couple’s car insurance policy, the affidavit states.
“(Wroblewski) gained the trust of her victims and used their credit cards and bank accounts to the tune of up to $100,000,” a VSO release reads.
When a family member confronted Wroblewski about some of the observed financial discrepancies, Wroblewski reportedly attributed them to an increase in spending for nursing home care and medical needs, according to court records.
Following an investigation into the couple’s finances, deputies announced they arrested Wroblewski on Tuesday at an Internet café in DeLand after a deputy spotted her vehicle nearby.
Body-camera video shows the deputy walking into the café and approaching Wroblewski at one of the devices. He asks for her name, and upon confirmation, places her in cuffs.
“I’m being arrested, I guess,” she can be heard saying in the footage.
Wroblewski now faces charges of grand theft, exploitation of the elderly, and fraudulent use of personal identifying information. She is held on bond of $60,000.
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