A 24-hour caregiver has been accused of being part of a scheme that bilked an elderly Palos Hills woman out of $631,000.

Two other women who also were allegedly involved are being sought but may have fled the country, Palos Hills police Chief Paul Madigan said Thursday.

Marion Issert, 65, of Joliet, was arrested Wednesday and charged with one count of felony senior financial exploitation, Madigan said.

Authorities believe the other two women fled to the Philippines. Madigan said police believe one was a friend of the victim’s who may have helped Issert get a job as her caregiver.

The suspects allegedly took the money from the woman’s bank account between June and October, police said, taking the woman to banks to transfer funds out of her account.

Police said the suspects initially asked the woman to donate the money to a church group in the Philippines, but she refused.

“Apparently they took it upon themselves to get the money transferred into their own accounts, and they were trying to send the money overseas,” Madigan said.

Palos Hills police were notified about a possible theft a few weeks ago by the PLOWS Council on Aging, he said.

“PLOWS was contacted by a bank who thought there was some suspicious activity on the accounts, which is an understatement,” Madigan said.

Read More