Police: Auburn home aide stole $10k from elderly man

Sheriff David Gould reports that the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office has arrested one person in connection with an investigation into a scheme which resulted in the theft of over ten thousand dollars from an elderly man.The investigation reveals that Katherine A Fletcher, age 41, of 165 Perrine St. Auburn, N.Y. approached the 80 year old Town of Fleming man and offered him her services as a “Home Health Aid”. The man accepted and Fletcher began visiting the man’s residence frequently however never spending more than a few minutes there at any time. Fletcher began in October of 2014 and at first was being paid in weekly cash or check amounts of approximately $300.00. In December Fletcher began receiving checks from the elderly man in the amount of $1000.00 each. From December 28th 2014 through January 23rd 2015 Fletcher received (10) one thousand dollar checks from the man for her alleged services. On at least 4 occasions Fletcher duped the man into believing that she had lost her checks requesting that he write her another to replace it. The investigation revealed that none of the checks were lost and that they were all cashed and all monies went to Fletcher. On two occasions Fletcher requested the checks be made out to an associate of hers in order to attempt to conceal the amount of money she was getting.The investigation reveals that Fletcher’s services were a fraud and that her sole intent was to steal money from the elderly man.On 01/30/15 after an interview with Detectives, Fletcher was charged with Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree. She was arraigned in the Town of Fleming Court and remanded to the Cayuga County Jail in lieu of $1000 cash or $2000 bail. She has since been released on bail.Cayuga County Adult Protective Services is looking further into the man’s needs.Anyone with any information concerning other potential victims is asked to contact Detective Robert Franklin at (315) 253-1132.