Caretaker Arrested For Allegedly Selling Patient's Pricey Pieces
DANIA BEACH (CBSMiami) -- The caretaker of a 67-year-old man who is legally blind was in bond court Wednesday morning, accused of exploiting the elderly after she allegedly sold her patient's artwork.
Broward Sheriff's deputies arrested Maureen Stuteville Tuesday on a charge of exploiting the elderly for $20,000 to under $100,000.
According to police, sometime between December 1st and December 12th, the victim Gilbert Jackson discovered his expensive painting from artists Victor Vasarely was missing from his living room at his Dania Beach home.
When he asked Stuteville about it, she first told him it was in a Boca Raton art gallery. Days later, police said, Gilbert asked to have his painting back but she told him he would need to give her $3, 000 and a car to get the painting back .
When Gilbert's friends came into town to help him retrieve the painting, they discovered an invoice to an antique gallery in Dania Beach.
Stuteville allegedly admitted to a family friend that she sold the paining among other expensive paintings and sculptures that Gilbert owned.
Some of the painting and sculptures sold were worth at least $30, 000.
The judge Wednesday found probable cause and set her bond at $10,000.