by Shea Baechle

Holly Kliethermes is wanted for arrest on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, for the Financial Exploitation of her father-in-law. (Photo - File)

NEW BLOOMFIELD — A Cole County woman is wanted for arrest for the financial exploitation of an elderly person.

Holly Kliethermes is wanted for the financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person, which is a Class B felony, according to court documents.

She has allegedly been exploiting her father-in-law from November 2021 to October 2023.

Click here to view the PDF file.

The exploitation began when her husband obtained the power of attorney over his father, and his father started living at a senior living center. 

Kliethermes and her husband were responsible for making payments on his father's behalf to the senior living center, but the home said they had not received hardly any payments from the couple and that when contacted their calls and emails had gone unanswered.

The couple's payments to the living center were roughly $55,000 overdue.

Staff members at the living center said some payments had been made on occasion, but not remotely enough to cover the father-in-law's monthly expenses, according to court documents.

She allegedly began using the victim's savings account money to pay for a bank visa card.

From November 2022 to July 2022, she had allegedly used $38,585.05 of the victim's money to pay for personal purchases, as well as cash two checks made to the father for an additional $3,400 and $241.29.

Bank records had shown purchases made at Sam's Club, Target, Walmart, and more from the father's account, but court records state that the victim was confined to the nursing home during those purchasing times.

Police found security footage from the stores listed in bank transactions to allegedly see Holly Kliethermes making the purchases.

Sheriffs spoke with Kliethermes regarding his father's funds being spent and the overdue balances, which he said he was aware of.

The son also confessed to cashing the two checks to his father but used them to buy the victim "goodies," according to court documents.

When the Sheriff discussed the over $72,000 that had been spent from his father's bank account, the man then blamed his wife.

Court records state that a Sheriff's Investigator spoke to the victim at the nursing home.

The victim stated his son was in charge of his nursing home bill, and that he was aware of his overdue balance.

However, the father said he hadn't seen his son in over six months and that he never permitted him to use his money for personal uses.

Nursing home staff were able to confirm that they had never seen the wife or husband bring anything to the victim and that they certainly did not bring anything for his father. 

Cole County woman wanted for financial exploitation of an elderly person