Karen Voortmans, 49, faces felony charges of aggregate theft and misapplication of fiduciary property from elderly. Prosecutors allege that from June 2009 to February 2011 Voortmans stole all the money her mother had in savings.
Voortmans' mother, Audrey Barnes, lives in a nursing home in La Porte, and Voortman was supposed to be taking care of her finances. But because her insurance premiums went unpaid, Barnes no longer has private health insurance, according to court documents.
In interviews with law enforcement authorities, Voortmans denied stealing her mother's funds, and instead explained that she spent all of the money on her mother's care.
Voortman's mother revoked her power of attorney privileges in February 2011.
