A Florida woman has been convicted on multiple felony counts following an investigation into a scheme that systematically drained nearly $350,000 from an elderly widow's financial accounts.
Kimberly Ruth Bitting, a 58-year-old resident of Leesburg, orchestrated the scheme after obtaining power of attorney over the victim shortly following the death of the widow's husband in August 2021. Over an 18-month period, Bitting issued checks from the victim's accounts, withdrew cash at ATMs, and transferred funds out of investment holdings.
According to officials, more than $137,000 of the stolen funds was used to purchase two parcels of land in Calhoun County, which were subsequently placed into a trust under Bitting's name. Additional money from the victim's accounts was distributed to the defendant's daughter and a paid caregiver under the guise of payment for services.
During the period of the scheme, the elderly widow experienced restricted contact with her family, controlled access inside her own home, and threats of being declared legally incompetent. The victim eventually managed to revoke the power of attorney, leave the area, and relocate to New York to live with her sister. Following her departure, Bitting reported the voluntary move to authorities as a kidnapping.
Initially arrested in 2024, Bitting was convicted of four counts of elderly exploitation and one count of cashing or depositing an item with intent to defraud.
Attorney General James Uthmeier addressed the conviction, stating that the defendant systematically exploited a vulnerable senior grieving the loss of her husband by abusing a power of attorney to drain her life savings, purchase personal property, and isolate her from relatives.
