Florida Woman Convicted After Stealing 350k From Elderly Neighbor

A jury has convicted 58 year old Kimberly Ruth Bitting of Leesburg, Florida, for systematically stealing nearly 350,000 dollars from her elderly neighbor. The scheme began in August 2021, shortly after the victim lost her husband. Bitting gained power of attorney and used her position of trust to funnel money into land purchases, cash withdrawals, and payments to her own family members over an 18 month period.

Beyond the financial theft, investigators revealed a campaign of isolation and emotional abuse. Bitting restricted the victim from seeing her family and threatened to declare her mentally incompetent. The victim eventually escaped the situation by moving to New York, though Bitting attempted to cover her tracks by falsely reporting the departure as a kidnapping to local authorities.

Bitting faces multiple felony counts, including four charges of elderly exploitation and one count of fraud. State officials highlighted the case as a stark reminder of the risks associated with granting power of attorney to individuals who may not have the victim's best interests in mind. This conviction serves as a warning for families to stay vigilant regarding the care and financial security of aging relatives.