A Linn couple face charges after allegedly exploiting a man for nearly two years.
Michael and Holly Kliethermes were charged with financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person. Michael Kliethermes was also charged with misappropriation of funds of elderly nursing home residents.
A probable cause statement from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said the department's office of special investigations received a tip in October alleging the financial exploitation of a resident at Stonebridge Senior Living in Jefferson City.
The referral said the man had a due balance of more than $47,000 and that calls and emails to collect had gone unanswered. Further investigation showed the man's son had power of attorney, and that his son, Michael, and daughter-in-law, Holly, had been using his bank cards since November 2021.
Over the following year, the couple reportedly used the man's money to pay $38,585 and made out thousands of dollars in checks. They allegedly spent a further $26,931 from his cards once he moved to Stonebridge in July 2022, and thousands more in checks.
Purchases were reportedly made from Amazon, Walmart, Target and Sam's Club while the man was confined to the nursing facility.
The man told authorities he was aware of the overdue bills but said his son was taking care of them, but that he hadn't seen his son in six months.
Michael Kliethermes told investigators he cashed his father's tax return checks, but said he used it to buy the man "goodies" and blamed the balance taken from his father's account on his wife.
Security footage from the stores reportedly showed a woman making all of the purchases, but transaction records showed both benefited from the purchases.