Police in Plum Borough are looking for a man who is accused of stealing nearly $35,000 from his girlfriend.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Plum Borough Police Department said 64-year-old David Merriweather became the woman’s caretaker and allegedly stole the money. According to the criminal complaint, Merriweather wrote checks for almost $35,000 to himself from his girlfriend’s account. According to his girlfriend, she never signed off on any of that.<\/p>\n
Court records said the victim’s son contacted police back in May. He said his mother’s health had been declining since Merriweather became her self-appointed caretaker. They had been living at a house on Duquesne Boulevard since last fall and had been in a relationship since 2018.<\/p>\n
Plum police could not comment specifically on this case on Tuesday. The department said if you are keeping finances separate in a relationship, they recommend not allowing people to have access to your account, routing number, or credit cards.<\/p>\n
“Or any other identifying information that would allow them access into financial records or accounts,” Plum detective Joseph Little said.<\/p>\n
Investigators said as the victim’s health declined, she was put in hospice care, at which point they received a “comfort box” of medication for her. The woman’s son told police Merriweather forced pills from the victim’s medicine into her mouth, followed by dumping a mixed drink down her throat.<\/p>\n
Police allege Merriweather made four checks from her account payable to him over a period of several days and cashed them at a First National Bank in New Kensington. Three of the checks were for $9,900, and one was for $5,000. Bank employees flagged them for being fraudulent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a statement, FNB said it has screening systems to check for suspicious activity. In cases like this, officials recommend filing a police report to try and get the money back.<\/p>\n
“As part of the adjudication and court system, they could always be ordered to pay restitution,” Little said.<\/p>\n
Merriweather faces charges of theft, forgery, fraud, and accessing stolen property.<\/p>\n
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