75-Year-Old Pleads Guilty to Stealing $21,000 from Cheyenne Man

A former Cheyenne caregiver who stole over $21,000 from a man with dementia during a three-month period in 2016 has pleaded guilty to exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

Seventy-five-year-old Elizabeth Lutz entered the plea this (Thursday) morning in Laramie County District Court as part of a deal with prosecutors.

Lutz, who began living with and caring for Robert Laughlin after his wife died in 2012, told the court that she took Laughlin to the courthouse to have her name put on three of his vehicles, knowing that he had dementia at the time.

Court records say she also made 57 unauthorized transactions on Laughlin's account, including 10 to Walmart totaling $6,095, 44 in which the customer received cash back totaling $1,980 and three to her dentist totaling $13,026.

In exchange for her guilty plea, the state is recommending a two to four year prison sentence.

Lutz remains free on bond.  Her sentencing date will be set as soon as a presentence investigation is complete, which usually takes two to four months.