Pa. Woman Accused Of Pilfering Dead Woman’s Estate

By Adam Brandolph, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Aug. 02--A McKeesport woman forged documents to take over her dying neighbor's estate, bank account and end-of-life decisions, according to an Allegheny County grand jury presentment Friday.

Mary Mechelli, 54, faces charges of theft, forgery, providing unsworn falsification to authorities, tampering with public records or information and insurance fraud. McKeesport police arrested her Thursday night.

According to the presentment, Margaret Dorn was being treated at UPMC McKeesport Hospital in March 2010 after falling down stairs. While in the hospital, Dorn signed over power of attorney to Mechelli on March 26, 2010.

A nurse who cared for Dorn testified to the grand jury that Dorn was confused "consistently from March 24 to March 29, 2010," making it impossible for her to legally consent to signing the documents.

Dorn was moved to Select Specialty Hospital on April 28, 2010, and Mechelli signed a "do not resuscitate" order on April 30. Dorn died of sepsis the next day. She was 79.

Two months later, Mechelli rented out Dorn's home at 1311 Scott Street in McKeesport for $475 a month. The house was fully furnished and there was clothing in the dresser drawers when a tenant moved in. Mail was still being delivered in Dorn's name.

The new tenant found two handguns and Dorn's checkbook inside the apartment. Suspicious, the tenant contacted Dorn's niece, who didn't know her aunt died.

The tenant confronted Mechelli about the home's ownership and she presented him with a letter prepared by attorney Michael Carr of the law firm Gregg, Creehan & Gerace dated Feb. 6, 2012, stating Mechelli was the owner of the property.

Two weeks later, Mechelli evicted the man, who contacted authorities.

During a 13-month investigation, detectives obtained Dorn's living will. The document, which had Margaret Dorn's first name spelled "Margret," was witnessed by Carr and Christopher Zwilcher, who investigators later learned worked in the law firm's mail room.

Investigators said Mechelli wrote 19 checks from Dorn's bank account totaling $3,762 and also tried to cash in on Dorn's $10,000United of Omaha Life Insurance Company policy. She received $1,764.

Mechelli is awaiting arraignment at the Allegheny County Jail.

Mike Manko, a spokesman for Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. would not say if Carr could face criminal charges, but said the case remains "an active and open investigation."

Adam Brandolph is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-391-0927 or [email protected].

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