Police accuse Waynesburg woman of theft
WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg Borough police have accused a Waynesburg woman of stealing more than $91,000 from an elderly couple over a span of seven months.
Police allege that Kathy M. Cooke, 47, used two separate bank debit cards that belonged to Emma Taylor, 90, and Joseph Taylor, 86, formerly of Holbrook, without their authorization to make withdrawals and multiple purchases at various locations in Greene and Washington counties from August 2013 through February.
According to criminal complaints filed in Magisterial District Judge Lou Dayich’s office on Wednesday, police said Cooke used the cards to withdraw a total of $76,634 from various ATM machines and for purchases at a number of stores and restaurants, including a total of nearly $8,000 at Walmart stores and more than $2,600 at Sheetz stores.
The complaints said the alleged withdrawals and purchases were confirmed through bank statements, surveillance photos, receipts and by Cooke herself.
Police allege that when Cooke was interviewed by police on three separate occasions, she never denied using the bank cards on the dates, times and locations in question, nor did she dispute the dollar amount taken, the complaints state.
Cooke told police that she was given permission from the Taylors to use the bank cards for her personal use; however, when police asked the Taylors if they permitted this to happen, they both said “no,” the complaints state.
Police allege that during the course of the investigation, Cooke confessed to using between one to three thousand dollars of the Taylors’ money to gamble and buy cigarettes without their permission or knowledge.
Police said when Cooke was asked if she had remorse about using the Taylors’ money without their permission, Cooke allegedly answered “no,” the complaints state.
According to court documents, Cooke was charged with 292 total counts each of access device fraud, theft and receiving stolen property.
Cooke was arraigned Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge Louis M. Dayich, who set bond at $25,000 unsecured.
Cooke’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15 before Dayich.