Daughter’s alleged “medical kidnapping” of her own elderly mother exposes the dark side of family betrayal, raising alarms about vulnerabilities in elder care that demand stronger protections for American families.
Story Snapshot
- 51-year-old Catherine Areu Jones arrested in Miami for kidnapping her 88-year-old mother and stealing over $224,000 in assets.
- Jones used revoked power of attorney to force mother into private assisted living facilities twice, under false incapacity claims.
- Mother rescued both times by DCF interventions and neighbors, after deception and physical force were uncovered.
- Miami-Dade Elder Exploitation Task Force leads ongoing probe, highlighting law enforcement’s role in shielding seniors from kin.
Details of the Kidnapping Incidents
Catherine Areu Jones tricked her 88-year-old mother into an assisted living facility during a fake ice cream outing around 2021-2022. The mother called for help before staff restricted her phone and visitors. Jones then orchestrated a second incident, dragging her mother to another memory care site with a co-conspirator’s aid. Neighbors alerted police after discovering the mother’s home door open and a shoe left behind. These acts aimed to control family assets amid prior property deed fraud reports.
Financial Exploitation and Legal Charges
Jones exploited a revoked power of attorney to siphon over $224,000 through reverse mortgage proceeds, credit cards, and bank withdrawals. Investigations traced losses back to 2019 DCF reports on a suspicious quitclaim deed transferring the mother’s home to Jones, which the victim denied signing. On June 28, 2022, an arrest warrant issued after Jones evaded capture, fleeing to locations including Mexico. Authorities arrested her on December 9, 2022, charging felony kidnapping, elder exploitation, and organized fraud.
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez coordinated the takedown. Rundle called familial abuses shocking, vowing punishment. Ramirez urged community vigilance, noting elders paved our paths. DCF adult protective services validated the mother’s competence, rejecting dementia claims both times and securing her releases from private facilities.
Role of Law Enforcement and State Agencies
The Miami-Dade Elder Exploitation Task Force uncovered the scheme hidden behind closed doors, a common vector for family-perpetrated fraud in Florida’s aging population. DCF countered false incapacity accusations, emphasizing their neutral verification role. Private assisted living facilities complied with placements until probes exposed the deceptions. This case underscores how powers of attorney and reverse mortgages enable exploitation without swift intervention.
Prosecutors prioritize such cases due to their emotional weight and detection challenges. The investigation remains ongoing post-arrest, with asset recovery uncertain. Heightened awareness now aids Miami-Dade seniors vulnerable to relatives, reinforcing elder protection laws amid broader institutional risks seen in related medical custody disputes.
Sources:
Daughter Charged with Kidnapping & Financial Exploitation of 88-Year-Old Mother
A story of medical imprisonment involving Florida hospital and Take Care of Maya
