Susan Larkin, 80, is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a 75-year-old man she was supposed to be caring for, according to the Allegheny County district attorney, who also alleges she kept his family away to carry out the crimes.When Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 visited Larkin at her Central North Side home Wednesday, she answered the door but refused to comment on the charges.”She is being wrongfully accused,” said Larkin’s attorney, Phil DiLucente.Court documents state Larkin met the man online, and he moved from Alaska to Pittsburgh in 2023 to be closer to his children. Detectives say he eventually moved in with Larkin, and that’s when investigators say the crimes began. Police claim Larkin secretly took over as the man’s power of attorney and prevented his children from attending his doctor’s appointments. The district attorney said this was Larkin’s way of hiding the man’s deteriorating mental state so she could access his money.”The numbers that I saw initially were close to a million dollars. The gentleman is 75 years old. He was on the early stages of dementia. A woman gets his confidence, transfers a POA from his son to her own account,” District Attorney Stephen Zappala said.Zappala said Larkin then gained access to the man’s bank accounts and used his money for personal expenses. Court documents allege she withdrew $220,000 from his account when she realized his children were trying to take the power of attorney back.”Criminals work at this all the time. Powers of attorney are about trust. Guardianships are about trust. And when you’re older, and you trust somebody, that’s what we see. That’s senior abuse by definition,” Zappala said.The man’s children have since regained power of attorney and moved their father out of Larkin’s home, but detectives are still tracking the money, Zappala said.DiLucente, however, said the accusations against his client are false.”My client loves this man greatly, has been with him for numerous years, and to now be attacked like this, I’m very disappointed. I really am,” DiLucente said.Larkin faces several charges, including theft and access device fraud. She is free on a nonmonetary bond and is scheduled to appear in court in July.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
Susan Larkin, 80, is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a 75-year-old man she was supposed to be caring for, according to the Allegheny County district attorney, who also alleges she kept his family away to carry out the crimes.
When Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 visited Larkin at her Central North Side home Wednesday, she answered the door but refused to comment on the charges.
“She is being wrongfully accused,” said Larkin’s attorney, Phil DiLucente.
Court documents state Larkin met the man online, and he moved from Alaska to Pittsburgh in 2023 to be closer to his children. Detectives say he eventually moved in with Larkin, and that’s when investigators say the crimes began. Police claim Larkin secretly took over as the man’s power of attorney and prevented his children from attending his doctor’s appointments. The district attorney said this was Larkin’s way of hiding the man’s deteriorating mental state so she could access his money.
“The numbers that I saw initially were close to a million dollars. The gentleman is 75 years old. He was on the early stages of dementia. A woman gets his confidence, transfers a POA from his son to her own account,” District Attorney Stephen Zappala said.
Zappala said Larkin then gained access to the man’s bank accounts and used his money for personal expenses. Court documents allege she withdrew $220,000 from his account when she realized his children were trying to take the power of attorney back.
“Criminals work at this all the time. Powers of attorney are about trust. Guardianships are about trust. And when you’re older, and you trust somebody, that’s what we see. That’s senior abuse by definition,” Zappala said.
The man’s children have since regained power of attorney and moved their father out of Larkin’s home, but detectives are still tracking the money, Zappala said.
DiLucente, however, said the accusations against his client are false.
“My client loves this man greatly, has been with him for numerous years, and to now be attacked like this, I’m very disappointed. I really am,” DiLucente said.
Larkin faces several charges, including theft and access device fraud. She is free on a nonmonetary bond and is scheduled to appear in court in July.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.