by Corey Arwood

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The caretaker of a Vero Beach Woman went on what police said was a two-week shopping spree with the woman's credit card, leading to the caretaker's arrest on charges of theft, fraud and exploitation of the elderly.

According to Vero Beach police records, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 15, Jennifer Hickling, 47, of Vero Beach, is accused of making 28 purchases at retail and grocery stores including Publix, Sam’s Club, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Amazon, an antique mall and a boutique dessert shop with the credit card of the 87-year-old for whom she’d worked about a year as caretaker.

Police identified Hickling from video surveillance taken during an alleged $120 purchase at a Walgreens on Feb. 15 at 11 p.m. and used credit purchase history to track the transactions, according to records.

Vero Beach Police Department

Charges totaled $3,127, according to the police warrant for Hickling's arrest.

Hickling was charged with exploitation of an elderly person of less than $10,000, scheme to defraud or organized fraud under $20,000, grand theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.

Detective Greg Matakaetis said the next step in the investigation is looking for other potential victims. He said Hickling refused to talk with police without a lawyer present.

“I don’t know how many other people employed her,” said Matakaetis.

He said he was looking into whether Hickling worked independently or through a healthcare service.

“It’s a continuing investigation,” he said.

State medical licensing records show her registered nursing license was suspended in 2018, while under the name Jennifer Michelle Curry, due to an investigation into charges of prescription painkiller possession and controlled substance theft.

The charges were ultimately dismissed in 2019 by the state after court records show Curry, now Hickling, completed a year of court-ordered rehabilitation.

Full Article & Source:
Caretaker of Vero Beach woman, 87, arrested on credit card fraud, other charges