EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – An Evansville woman is accused of spending nearly $1 million of her mother’s money.
According to an affidavit, EPD’s Financial Crimes Unit was contacted by the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office. Officials state the victim was 80-year-old Dianna Bretz. Sarah McFarland is Bretz’s daughter. Bretz had been living in an assisted living facility, where McFarland had been made her power of attorney in September 2021.
Trial date set for Evansville woman accused of driving toddler to daycare under the influence
Officials state McFarland had been spending “egregious” amounts of money from Bretz. After getting financial records, EPD says it was determined that at one point, in the year prior to the power of attorney going into effect, the average amount spent each month was just under $3,000, and once the power of attorney status was enacted, that amount ballooned to $19,500.
Officials state on October 4, 2021, after the power of attorney was made official, a total of over $44,000 was transferred by McFarland to an account with her name on it. Officials also state McFarland spent investment deposits that were supposed to be going to Bretz’s account, sometimes upwards of $30,000 per month in investments.
Evansville woman accused of threatening to kill child
EPD notes some of the purchases made on the account include lion safaris and boat rentals in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, thousands of dollars in department store purchases, credit card payments, monthly payments to Honda and Kawasaki, grocery purchases and thousands of dollars in food and food deliveries. The account was also allegedly overdrawn multiple times…