UPDATE 11/27/12 @ 11 p.m.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A woman is facing several charges after admitting to West Virginia State Police that she stole from a 94-year-old blind woman that she used to work for as a nurse.
Sarah Ward, 26, of Huntington, is charged with petit larceny, conspiring to commit a felony, uttering, obtaining money under false pretenses and obstructing.
At 94 years old and blind, Lillie Heaberlin has no choice but to trust people. She has individuals in her home helping her out five days a week. Unfortunately, though, that trust has been broken.
"I wouldn't want to go through this thing again,” Heaberlin said. “I'm too old, and it hurts your heart."
Heaberlin said on Nov. 16, her aide had left for the day when she got a knock on the door from another woman, claiming to be there to help her out.
The victim told State Police that the suspect said she was there "to help make coffee." The victim told her she didn't need help making coffee, and the suspect ran out the front door.
Heaberlin said she didn't think much of it until she went to the bank and her checkbook was missing.
She found that Ward had cashed three checks, totaling $530 from the victim's account.
"I've went through many, many things, but that's the worst,” Heaberlin said. “It just hurts you all over and makes you sick."
A few days later, Ward was questioned by State Police. She said that she had just cashed the checks that were brought to her by Jay McFeeley. Ward told investigators that McFeeley said he got the checkbook from his great-grandmother.
In a second interview, her story changed and she admitted that the story the victim told was correct and she did pretend to be an aide. She said she had worked for the victim and knew she had poor vision.
Ward told State Police that she stole the money because McFeeley had been living on the streets and she wanted to give him a better place to stay.
Troopers, however, say it’s a crime they see all too often, and the common denominator is drugs.
"It's not uncommon,” Trooper Stephen Gula said. “It's something that we see everyday. People coming in through the detachment here in Huntington, reporting having checkbooks stolen or checks actually fraudulently written. It all revolves around drugs right now."
McFeeley is also wanted by State Police and will be charged with conspiring to commit a felony and forgery when he is caught.
Despite the heartache Heaberlin has endured, she has a lesson for everyone – especially at this time of year. It’s forgiveness.
“You can have it in your mind, but you have to forgive in your heart," she said.
Sarah Ward, 26, of Huntington, is charged with petit larceny, conspiring to commit a felony, uttering, obtaining money under false pretenses and obstructing.
WVSP say the victim is an elderly woman who is blind and has individuals in her home helping her out five days a week.
She said that on November 16, her aide had left for the day when she got a knock on the door from another woman, claiming to be there to help her out.
The victim told WVSP that the suspect said she was there "to help make coffee." The victim told her she didn't need help making coffee and the suspect ran out the front door.
The victim said she didn't think much of it until she went to the bank and her checkbook was missing.
She found that Sarah Ward had cashed three checks, totaling $530 from the victim's account.
A few days later, Ward was questioned by WVSP. She said that she had just cashed the checks that were brought to her by Jay McFeeley. Ward told investigators that McFeeley said he got the checkbook from his great grandmother.
In a second interview, her story changed and she admitted that the story the victim told was correct and she did pretend to be an aide. She said that she had worked for the victim and knew she had poor vision.
Ward told WVSP that she stole the money because McFeeley had been living on the streets and she wanted to give him a better place to stay.
McFeeley is also wanted by State Police and will be charged with conspiring to commit a felony and forgery when he is caught.
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