According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a home health care nurse was taken into custody after allegedly taking $141,594 from her elderly and blind client.
The 46-year-old private certified nursing assistant Carrie Hutchinson is charged with embezzling the money from the 77-year-old victim who hired her for four years.
According to detectives, the victim asked a former chief financial officer to look into the activities in his account in July after growing suspicious about his financial situation.
Officials claim that Hutchinson made the following fraudulent charges on his account:
- His American Express card was billed $780 for “Pop On Veneers” in July 2024.
- Her friend’s AE card was charged for a United Airlines ticket to Florida (December 2023)
- Allegiant Airlines charged his Bank of America card $1,588 for her and four friends’ flight to Maine (August 2023)
- His Amazon account had 270 orders worth $4,774 between April 2021 and July 2024.
According to detectives, Hutchinson used his money for her own credit cards, pet supplies, VRBO rentals, ATM withdrawals, photography lessons, and animal medical bills during the years-long theft.
In January 2020, the victim first engaged Hutchinson to take care of his deceased wife. He retained Hutchinson as his personal assistant to assist him with bill payment, shopping, and financial management, according to the sheriff’s office.
Prior to raising her wage to $6,000 per month in 2024, the man was paying her $5,800 per month.
After returning from a cruise, the victim confronted Hutchinson, who was then fired. She stated that she intended to reimburse him for the money she had “borrowed” to pay for the trip. However, she informed him that she was no longer employed and could not repay him after being sacked.
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“This woman’s actions are despicable,” Sheriff Grady Judd stated. “Taking advantage of an elderly man who entrusted her with his life savings while also paying her a good salary is inexcusable and unforgivable. She is now charged with three very serious felonies.”
Hutchinson was taken into custody on allegations of criminal use of personal identification, exploitation of the elderly, and grand theft of $100,000 or more.
