Cops Say Couple Bilked Elderly Man Out Of $300,000
October 16, 2009
An elderly Portland man who relied on his weekly cab rides to get to the doctor, grocery store and do errands soon became a victim of the taxi driver and his wife, police say.
Together, the pair allegedly bilked the man out of more than $300,000.
Jerry Lee Knight, 70, and spouse Cheryl Diane Knight, 60, of North Portland, were arrested this week and face a 44-count felony indictment accusing them of multiple first-degree mistreatment, first-degree aggravated theft and first-degree theft charges.
"They've basically been brainwashing and grooming him over the years," said Detective Jay Pentheny of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. "They were surviving off his good fortune, and making more money than most Americans make."
The Knights pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday. They're each being held on $340,000 bail at Multnomah County Detention Center.
While driving for Broadway Cab, it was Jerry Knight who struck up the relationship 10 years ago with the elderly Portland man he knew as Harry, ferrying him back and forth to doctors appointments and on grocery shopping trips.
"Harry became dependent on Jerry Knight for his transportation, and back then, saw him as a friend," Pentheny said.
Soon, Jerry Knight and his wife became the man's unofficial caregivers, offering to do his laundry and assisting in paying his bills, police say.
"Harry kind of felt he had to do so because he didn't have children," Pentheny said.
The detective said the Knights soon had control over the elderly man's check book, and had him sign checks to them on a weekly basis.
In the last two years, the elderly man's health faltered and he was moved into a care facility in Portland, but the abuse continued and the amounts the Knights pocketed from Harry grew to tens of thousands of dollars a month, police say.
An astute caretaker at the facility where the man, now 85, was living became suspicious and in 2008 alerted Multnomah County's adult protective services. The 85-year-old had worked for the U.S. Post Office, was retired, and lost his savings, Pentheny said. Jerry Knight no longer works for Broadway Cab.
Pentheny said this type of elder financial abuse is becoming more common, partly because of the poor economy and a growing elderly population.
"Elders are trusting, caring and grew up in an era where they didn't lock their doors," the detective said. "None of them can fathom that their caregivers are going to steal all their pay."
Source; OregonLive.com
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