Filipina accused of stealing over $0.5M from dementia patient

A Filipina certified nursing assistant in Chicago is accused of having stolen more than half a million dollars from an elderly patient suffering from severe dementia, CBS reports.

The Office of the Cook County Public Guardian plans to sue Carmelita Pasamba, of Chicago, Illinois for allegedly stealing over $500,000 from 94-year-old Marshal Davies. The Public Guardian, an office dedicated to championing the rights of children and elderly, also plans to recover ill-gotten money Pasamba gave to family members, and Filipino-American organizations in the Chicago area.

Pasamba called the money she took from Davies as “loans” and that he approved it all.

According to reports, Davies was a patient suffering from dementia at St. Joseph hospital in 2008 when he met Pasamba, who cared for him during his stay.

One of the requirements for Davies to be discharged was to have a full-time caretaker at his home. He hired Pasamba.

The Public Guardian’s office alleges that in her care, Pasamba brought Davies to a Filipino lawyer from the Filipino American Council where they “prepared a new will and trust for Davies and gave $20,000 to various social service organizations affiliated with the Filipino-American organization and granted Pasamba $175,000 upon Davies’ death,” and gave her power of attorney over his estates, reports CBS.

Following the money trail, CBS through the Public Guardian’s office, shows Pasamba began siphoning off Davies savings soon after. She used $10,000 as a downpayment for a brand new Mercedes, paid for her daughter’s school tuition and funded her son’s dance studio, CBS reports.

On three separate occasions she also withdraw $50,000 from his bank account. She also sold one of his condos for $189,000 and gave herself a $50,000 “bonus” for completing the sale.

CBS further reports, Pasamba brought in her sister, also a caretaker, and she received more than $20,000 to remodel and furnish her apartment.

When confronted by CBS, Pasamba said she regrets spending the money.

“I just realize that what I did is not right,” she told CBS.

The Public Guardian’s office plans to recover the money by suing her and everyone involved.

“Mr. Davies was extremely vulnerable,” said James Burton, an assistant public guardian to CBS. “He was nearly 90 years old in 2008. He was already exhibiting signs of dementia. And so he was the perfect prey.

“We tend to be jaded sometimes because we see this type of stuff all the time, but this one takes the cake,” he added. “Essentially Mr. Davies was their own personal ATM machine.”