WWII veteran’s savings wiped out, investigation underway
A 102-year-old veteran was scammed out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, his caretaker claims.
Mike Kovich, passed away less than a week. We introduced you to Mike Kovich on his 102nd birthday. He was born in a small West Virginian coal mining town and fought in World War II. He was a prisoner of war for 13 months after his plane was shot down in Germany in 1944. When Kovich was freed he got married and eventually settled in Palm Springs.
Kovich’s caretake Ruth Purbaugh has filed a police report after money was missing from his account. She says she viewed his bank accounts with him to find they were wiped completely clean with just pennies remaining. She said the accounts once held hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“When they got to his savings, he had 57 cents. His other savings he had 7 cents. His checking account he had $490-some. At that point, Mike turned white and Mike was like ‘Where’s all my money?'” Purbaugh told KESQ & CBS Local 2.
Purbaugh showed us a paper trail that she says shows Kovich’s long-time friend was stealing his money.
Purbaugh said the woman would visit Kovach, but “The last time when she was here and they got into an argument about money, I knew something was going wrong.”
Further investigation showed bills were being paid that Purbaugh said Kovich didn’t have, including Cal Edison, a telephone bill, and a security system.
Purbaugh claims that the veteran sold his mobile home for $20,000 and “as soon as it was put in his checking account, there was a check made out to this woman for $18,500.”
The caregiver says signatures on checks aren’t Kovich’s, and the fraud includes money being debited out for bills or checks made directly to that woman and her business.
We are not reporting that woman’s name at this time since she is not charged. Palm Springs Police confirm that they are investigating the case and will send their findings to the District Attorney this week to determine if charges of fraud and elder abuse will be filed.
News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 reporter Jake Ingrassia reached the woman by phone, who insists she is not guilty. She referred the matter to her lawyer, who said the allegations are meritless.
“He willingly and willfully signed the power of attorney authorizing my client to conduct whatever transactions she saw fit.” said attorney Eric Benfamochan by phone.
Purbaugh, vowing for justice for Kovich, saying “your job here is to protect them. And I knows Mike’s gone now, but I still want her to pay for what she did to him.”
Download the KESQ & CBS Local 2 app on iTunes or Google Play for up-to-the-minute breaking news alerts & more
More: I-Team and Stands for You investigations
Find us on Facebook: KESQ News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2
Follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates: @KESQ & @Local2
We’re on Instagram! @KESQ_News_Channel_3 & @CBSLocal2
Noticias en español: Telemundo 15
