- Authorities say a Florida man fraudulently transferred an elderly woman’s home into his name.
- Victim allegedly denied food, forced to shower outdoors, and severely neglected.
- Both suspects charged with elder abuse and fraud in St. Lucie County.
- Police describe the case as a shocking example of real estate and elder exploitation.
In a disturbing case of real estate fraud and elder abuse, a Florida man is accused of transferring ownership of an elderly woman’s home into his own name while subjecting her to months of cruelty and neglect.
According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, 43-year-old Enrique Navedo and 58-year-old Loy Lynn La Pierre allegedly exploited and tormented the elderly victim inside her St. Lucie County home.
Detectives say Navedo fraudulently used a quitclaim deed to seize the woman’s property a method that “quickly transfers real estate ownership without guaranteeing a clear title,” under Florida law.
Authorities launched an investigation in July after the Florida Department of Children and Families received reports of abuse and neglect involving the pair. When investigators arrived, they found the elderly woman in deplorable conditions.
“During interviews, the victim described being denied food, restricted from moving freely inside her home, and forced to use the restroom outdoors,” the sheriff’s office said. “She was also made to shower in a small tent with a garden hose, providing only cold water and no temperature control.”
Detectives also discovered that the woman was suffering from a “chronic, untreated wound that exposed internal tissue and bone,” as well as other severe health issues caused by what authorities called “prolonged neglect.”
The sheriff’s office said Navedo fraudulently backdated and filed the deed more than a year after its alleged signing, effectively transferring the woman’s home into his name.
He now faces charges of “fraud-swindle-obtain property $50,000 or more” and abuse of an elderly or disabled adult without great bodily harm.
La Pierre, who allegedly helped carry out the abuse, was also charged with abuse of an elderly or disabled adult without great bodily harm.
Both suspects are being held at the St. Lucie County Jail on bond. The sheriff’s office described the case as a grim reminder of the importance of monitoring elder care and safeguarding vulnerable homeowners from property scams and financial exploitation.
Also Read: New Jersey Woman Charged With Attempted Murder After Allegedly Stabbing 2-Year-Old Brother
