A Wichita woman has been sentenced to almost three years in prison for taking money from her stepmother, who was in a nursing home.
53-year-old Shelby Frias was found guilty in January of mistreatment of an elder person. Prosecutors said she took $54,000 from her stepmother’s bank account from 2015 through 2017. At the time, her 72-year-old stepmother was suffering from failing health and dementia, and she died about five months after the theft was discovered.
Frias testified at her trial that her stepmother wanted her to take the money and keep it safe, in case the stepmother was ever able to go home. Prosecutors said Frias spent much of the money on shopping, hotels, trips and rental cars.
A judge denied a request for probation and ordered Frias to pay restitution to the victim’s estate after she is released from prison.
The case came to light when staff at the nursing home noticed that the stepmother’s housing bill was not being paid, and the nursing home referred the case to the Kansas Department of Children and Families. DCF then presented the case to the Sedgwick County district attorney’s office.
