Woman who fled fraud charges is in Montco prison
A Lansdale woman who fled the United States after allegedly bilking a stroke victim out of his home and savings is being held on $7.5 million in the Montgomery County prison, court officials said Monday.
A Lansdale woman who fled the United States after allegedly bilking a stroke victim out of his home and savings is being held on $7.5 million in the Montgomery County prison, court officials said Monday.
Janet M. Gitney, 57, of the 700 block of Brian Way, was arraigned Friday before District Justice Kenneth Deatelhauser and sent to jail when she could not post bail. She is accused of theft, forgery, and misusing her power as trustee and caregiver for a former Hatfield man, Eugene Waldspurger, 57. Waldspurger is partly paralyzed following a stroke; he hired her in 2007.
Prosecutors said Gitney put him in a nursing home and transferred his Hatfield home into her name without his knowledge, then drained his savings of $100,000. The matter drew the attention of police when Waldspurger's cousin questioned the house transfer. Gitney fled to the Philippines, but returned Nov. 22 and was apprehended in New York City.
Court officials said a preliminary hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. Dec. 19 in Souderton. - Bonnie L. Cook