Former COA Worker Who Stole $900K from Elder on Trial Monday

Exactly one year after being arraigned for allegedly stealing $900,000 from an elderly dementia victim from Oliver Road, a former home care corrdinator for the Belmont Council on Aging will have her day in court Monday, Oct. 22, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.
 
Kathryn Christopher, 65, of Everett, will stand trial in Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn on charges of larceny of a person over 60 over $250 and three counts of obtaining a signature by false pretense.

According to Leone, in 2003, while working as the COA's home-care coordinator, Christopher got to know the victim after she was referred to the COA due to her medical state which left her confused and caused the victim to have a difficult time with her memory. 

Rather establish services for the victim’s needs, Christopher assigned herself the role of taking care of the victim, which was a violation of the company’s policy.
 
Over the next four years, Christopher is alleged to have stolen over $450,000 from the victim.
 
In 2004, it is alleged that Christopher took the victim to two separate attorneys in an effort to change her will but theyrefused to assist in preparing a new will. 

A third attorney eventually created a new will, listing the defendant as the beneficiary and the power of attorney. During the signing of the new will, it is alleged that the victim appeared confused and signed her name incorrectly several times.

Authorities further allege that on two occasions the defendant assisted the victim in signing a mortgage for her. The total amount of money for both mortgages was $450,000, and was allegedly used to open the joint account with the intention of using the money to pay for home care.

However less than $5,000 was used for that purpose.
 
During the course of the investigation, a doctor opinioned that the victim did not have the mental capacity to understand what was happening as early as 2004 when she signed a new will.
 
Christopher was indicted by a Middlesex grand jury on Sept. 15, 2011 and arrainged on Oct. 17, 2012.