A Metro Detroit woman is under fire, facing felony embezzlement charges. The victim?. A vulnerable, elderly woman. A person she was supposed to love and protect.
It’s become a case of sister versus sister, in a fight over right and wrong.
What happened to turn siblings into enemies? Any way you look at this story, it it sad. A family has been torn apart - and some believe greed is at the center of it all.
Sheila Talbot, a 46-year-old Brighton woman, says her own flesh and blood, her big sister, 62-year-ol d Cheryl Elaine Smith, ripped off their mother.
"She used her bank account as her own. She opened credit cards with my mom's name. She paid her credit card bills out of my Mom's bank account," Talbot says. "She literally destroyed our family for greed."
Talbot says she and other loved ones went to police, hoping to pursue charged against Smith. However, they could not proceed because their mother had already died.
Talbot says her greatest concern is that her sister will do it again.
"If she's not stopped she's going to move on another vulnerable adult. someone who can not take care of themselves," Talbot says.
According to law enforcement, it's already happened.
Cheryl Smith is now accused of stealing money from 89-year-old Agnus Jamieson of Ann Arbor, a longtime family friend, who was also laid to rest before hse had her day in court.
That case now has Smith facing charges.
Documents appear to show that Smith bought a boat, a car and a trailer in Florida for $40,000.
She's pled guilty, but still denies the charges, she says because she doesn't have $10,000 for trial.
As for what she'd say to Agnus?
"She knows that I didn't do it, that my family set me up. She knows," Smith says. "She loves me and I love her. She's in heaven now."
But what about her family?
"My family is dysfunctional. I don't want to have anything to do with them. They're thieves and liars and they have done terrible things," she says.
As for what her family accused her of, including taking advantage of their mother?
"That's a lie guys. I took care of my Mom and she died. They did nothing. She never did anything to her mother. Her family is extremely dysfunctional. My mother knows," she says.
Smith is likely facing probation and will likely not spend one day in jail.
Her sister says the family has learned some valuable lessons during this process, including to never let just one person handle your loved ones finances and care.
According to the The National Center on Elder Abuse reports that 90 percent of the perpetrators are family members or people the victims know well, such as neighbors, friends or caregivers. Here’s what to watch for:
- Lack of knowledge about major financial issues
- Physical frailty issues
- Isolation
- Questionable behavior of relatives
According to the American Association of Retired Persons, if you suspect elder financial abuse, don't hesitate to confront the perpetrator and get the proper authorities involved
