Feds Grab Fugitive After Int'l Manhunt; Suspect Accused Of Abusing POA By Putting Disabled Man's Home, Cash Into Her Name After Victim Suffered Stroke

In Upper Gwynedd Pennsylvania, Montgomery News reports:

• It was Thanksgiving dinner behind bars for an Upper Gwynedd woman who allegedly stole more than $300,000 from a disabled Hatfield man now that the international manhunt for her has ended.



• Janet Gitney, 57, of the 700 block of Brian Way, was apprehended [...] at JFK International Airport in New York and immediately taken into federal custody, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Hatfield Township Police Chief Mark Toomey. Gitney had arrived at the airport from the Philippines, according to authorities.



• On Sept. 26, Gitney was charged with theft by unlawful taking or disposition, securing execution of documents by deception, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and failure to make required disposition of funds received in connection with alleged incidents that occurred between January 2009 and July 2011, according to court papers.



• Gitney, authorities alleged, utilized her power of attorney over the victim to unlawfully take control of the man’s bank accounts and even the residence he owned by having it transferred to her name without the man’s consent or authorization.



• Gitney allegedly fled to the Philippines and Korea while she was under investigation for stealing about $100,000 in retirement funds and $222,334 in property from the disabled Hatfield man. Gitney’s passport and flight records indicated she was to return to the U.S on Oct. 14 and she failed to do so, prosecutors previously revealed.

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• On June 10, Gitney transferred the Hatfield property “from the victim to herself for no consideration,” [Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Tracey] Potere alleged in court papers.



• At the time of the transfer, the victim was in a Lansdale area hospital after suffering another stroke in early June, court papers alleged. After the transfer of the property was completed, Gitney, as the victim’s power of attorney, arranged for the victim to be placed in a state run nursing home in Bucks County, authorities alleged.

For more, see Upper Gwynedd woman charged in $300K theft nabbed after international manhunt.