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« Rat poison found in pet food blamed in pet deaths | Today | Catholic rights head decries Easter bunny ban » March 23, 2007Parole denied for woman who stole from elderlyPatricia Murtaugh, the former Block Island carrot cake shop owner who stole most of the life savings of two women in their 90s, has been denied parole by the New York State Division of Parole. Murtaugh, 59, was sentenced by a Queens, N.Y. judge last September to serve one to three years for stealing more than $245,000 from two New York women for whom she was a help-mate. The women, retired psychiatrist Elisabeth Shanks and former Navy nurse Joan Coughlan, suffer from memory impairment, live alone and had asked Murtaugh to help them pay their bills. She ended up stealing much of their money. As a result of the thefts, Shanks will soon have to move out of her rent-stablized apartment over the Hudson River and move into a state-subsidized nursing home. Murtaugh has made $5,000 so far in restitution-- $2,500 to each of her victims.
In denying Murtaugh parole, the commissioners said that Murtaugh was not remorseful for her crimes and that they believed she would commit further crimes if granted release now. "On two separate occasions, you stole money totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars from two separate extremely elderly victims, aged 94 and 90 respectively. At interview, you offered little to explain your motivation for this monumental theft of your victims' life savings. Additionally, you displayed little remorse for your victims, only claiming to feel remorse after being prompted. "Therefore, despite your receipt of an earned eligibility certificate and merit time credit, the panel concludes that if you are released at this time there exists a reasonable probability that you will not live and remain at liberty without further violations of the law. All factors considered, including the multiple victims involved and the particularly vulnerable nature of the victims, your release would not be in the best interests of the community at this time," the commissioners said. Posted by Steve Peoples CommentsPost a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006