After convincing her husband that he had Alzheimer’s, she was arrested in Connecticut. She was accused of stealing almost $600,000.
Donna Marino, 63, was arrested Wednesday after her husband John, 73, approached the East haven Police Department in March 2020 to report a ‘large scale fraud,’ Capt. According to the New Haven Register, Joseph Murgo said that Donna Marino was being held without bail.
Following an investigation police discovered that Marino allegedly forged her husband John’s signature on a wide array of legal documents.
They included his social security checks, pension checks, and worker’s compensation settlements before depositing the funds into a secret bank account. He didn’t know.
Donna Marino, 63 (pictured), was arrested Wednesday after John, 73 approached police in March 2020 to report a large-scale fraud.
Donna convinced John (pictured), that he had Alzheimer’s Disease, just like his mother. This was to keep him away from going to the bank and not noticing the low balances.
Police say Marino was capable of obtaining Power of Attorney over her husband because a friend, who is a Notary Public, fraudulently signed legal documents without John present.
The New Haven Register reported that she was able use her status as his Power Of Attorney to file taxes for him and pawn his possessions without his knowledge.
Police say Donna defrauded her husband over 20 years of $600,000.
Police say the money was used to pay rent, groceries, and car payment bills for her family members.
John claimed that he didn’t learn of the alleged theft until March 2019, 10 years after their marriage.
John’s daughter Elena (pictured below) moved him from New York to Florida. However, he is still struggling with the betrayal
John claimed that he didn’t become aware of the alleged theft until March 2019, 10 years after their marriage began.
Donna was able get away with her scheme so long because she took advantage of John’s fear that he would develop Alzheimer’s Disease like his mother. This was to keep him from going into the bank and not noticing the low balances.
WFSB.com’s Elena, John’s daughter, said that Donna was able convince her father that he had the disorder. He simply didn’t remember going to the appointment.
She was telling him stories about how he was running around the house, chasing her. She said that he was running after her, saying “Get out of my house, I don’t know your name.”
John’s granddaughter stated that Donna used his family’s history with the disease as fuel to gaslight him.
“My great grandmother used rip up mail. So she told my grandfather that he was ripping it up. So she went and bought a PO box. She explained to WFSB.com that he never saw a bill because of this.
John’s daughter moved him from New York to Florida, but he still struggles with the betrayal.
“He thinks about it every now and then, he just can’t believe the trauma. She said that he has serious.. he suffers.
Donna was charged first-degree theft and third-degree fraud.
She was placed in custody on $25,000 bond. She was arraigned Thursday.