A caregiver in Florida is facing charges for allegedly taking over her patient’s home and using his life savings for extravagant trips abroad.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office and Property Appraiser’s Office allege that Lillian Morris, who was employed as a caregiver while the victim was hospitalized, took advantage of the situation.
According to the victim’s family, they grew suspicious when Morris began staying overnight at the house and visiting outside of her scheduled work hours.
Concerns escalated when Morris added herself as a co-holder on the victim’s bank account, leading the family to alert her employer, which subsequently fired her.
Investigators claim Morris manipulated the victim into signing a power of attorney, despite doubts about his mental capacity to make such decisions.
Over a span of two and a half years, Morris allegedly accessed the victim’s finances, depleting his savings to fund lavish trips to destinations like Amsterdam, Greece, Mexico, and Africa.
She is also suspected of having withdrawn $80,000 from the victim’s bank account to purchase two CDs in her name.
Officials said Morris also moved into the victim’s home and rented out one of the bedrooms, keeping the rental proceeds to herself.
Investigators also said they found that Morris recorded a quitclaim deed to transfer ownership of the victim’s Plantation home to herself. The home is valued at about $1.1 million.
Morris was arrested and charged with exploitation of an elderly man and a scheme to defraud.
