Missouri couple accused of defrauding elderly relative set to go to trial

It is alleged Jeffrey Proffitt, 64, and Juanita Proffitt, 54, both of Pottersville, obtained control of about $204,000 of Jeffrey Proffitt's mother's money over the course of about two years, from July 2019 to August 2021. This allegedly was carried out by opening a joint account in Juanita Proffitt's and the victim's names, then writing checks on the account without the victim's knowledge.

The trial is set to begin Nov. 29, to be presided over by 37th Judicial Associate Circuit Judge R. David Ray, who was appointed to the case after a request for a change of judge was granted. Presiding Circuit Judge Steven Privette was initially assigned to the case. West Plains attorney Jacob Garrett is representing the couple, with the case being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecutor Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecutor Rizwan Ahad.

DHSS lead investigators Sarah Pfizer-Mindack and Ron Buchanan submitted their findings to prosecutors Aug. 12, 2022, and a grand jury indictment was issued for each of the defendants on Aug. 25, and each was issued a warrant with a $25,000 bond, which was paid on Oct. 28, 2022, court records show.

Documents provided to prosecutors by the investigators pointed out Proffitt's mother had moved in with the couple in July 2019 following a stroke, and in December of that year, the house she owned caught fire, damaging it significantly and resulting in an insurance reimbursement of $140,100 to the homeowner.

Investigators allege that an account at Wood & Huston Bank was then opened, using proceeds from the insurance settlement and subsequent sale of that home, listing Juanita Proffitt's name as the account owner and the victim's name added. Collectively the funds amounted to about $182,200.

The victim reportedly told investigators she had no account access, debit cards or checks, nor did she see any bank statements for the account. Between March 2020 and January 2021, there were reportedly 16 checks written to Jeffrey Proffitt and signed by Juanita Proffitt totaling $77,000, plus $74,236.30 in other suspicious charges.

Additionally, the victim reportedly had a Bank of America account for several years prior to 2019 with only her name on it, into which monthly payments from Social Security and a trust held in her name were deposited. In 2019, Juanita Proffitt's name was added to the Bank of America account, investigators said.

When statements from both accounts were reviewed, it was found that from September 2019 through August of 2021 the victim received an income of $266,807.52, and during the same time period the Proffitts used their access to the accounts to gain $204,273.35 of her money, investigators allege.

When Buchanan interviewed Juanita Proffitt, she reportedly stated she discussed Carolyn's finances with Jeffrey Proffitt for his approval, and there had been no prior financial agreement made with her mother-in-law regarding her living with the two.

Jeffrey Proffitt reportedly stated he planned to have his mother living with them "until she was gone," and accordingly thought they could spend the money.