Soldier's mom accused of stealing insurance money

[Barrett808]

Soldier's mom accused of stealing insurance money
Police: Portage woman was supposed to safeguard money for her granddaughter
BY BOB KASARDA
[e-mail]
219.462.5151

VALPARAISO | Just three months before Roy Russell Buckley was killed in Iraq, the Portage resident took out a $250,000 life insurance policy and left his mother in charge of safeguarding the money until his young daughter reached 18.

The money is now gone, and police are blaming Buckley's mother, Janie Lee Espinoza, of Portage.

The 56-year-old has been charged with eight counts of felony theft.

Police said she wasted little time in stealing the money. Her son was killed April 22, 2003, and by May 21, 2003, she began the process of writing checks to herself and for purchases, including $6,550 to Jet Auto Sales in Hobart, $2,508 to Skyline Motors in South Haven and $6,500 to Gratz Piano in Valparaiso, police said.

She is accused of withdrawing or spending the entire $250,000, plus $406 in interest, by Sept. 30, 2004.

(more)

http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2006/04/20/news/top_news/b7a5637b3cf9948c86257155007f5ed9.txt

[xultar]

1. That is some phucked up shit. PHUCKED UP. BUT. Spending is

how some people deal with grief.

[saigon68]

5. MORE ON THE STORY

Army Spc. Roy Russell Buckley

24, of Portage, Ind.; assigned to the 685th Transportation Company, based in Hobart, Ind.; killed when he fell from an M818 truck traveling in a convoy. The incident is under investigation. Buckley, 24, an Army Reservist, died April 22 in a vehicle accident in Baghdad, the Pentagon said. He was traveling in a convoy and climbed out of the passenger compartment of a truck to get into the trailer and fell. After he did not return, he was discovered lying on the side of the road with serious injuries and was pronounced dead

“He was the life of the family,” said Espinoza, an ordained minister. “I’m just going to have to have the Lord with me to help me through this.” Buckley last spoke to his mother on Easter, saying he hoped to be home in time for Mother’s Day.


SHE IS AN ORDAINED MINISTER


“Roy was doing the work of God. He made it into heaven doing what Jesus did, feeding the multitudes,” said Charles Calvin, Buckley’s brother.

Army officials presented the Bronze Star to Buckley’s family on Thursday in recognition of his service in Iraq.

[xultar]

6. He climed out while they were moving? Something ain't right with this

someone beat him up and tossed his ass off that truck.

[saigon68]

7. Some reports say he feeding children from a moving truck

Another legend for snopes.com

[AnneD]

2. How horrible.....

this is one of those things that never cease to shock me. How can she ever look her grandchild in the eyes and explain what she did. I an sure there is a special place for folks like that.

[enid602]

4. special place for people like that

yes, this should make her eligible for a prime spot in the Bush Administration.

[AnneD]

3. deleted

this was so shocking I posted it twice...sorry

[Horse with no Name]

8. This is horrible

Before these soldiers are deployed, they are supposed to be given legal counsel by the military to help get their affairs in order in case they don't come home.
Why wasn't he advised to put the insurance money into a trust with an executor? Perhaps he just trusted his mom to do the right thing.
Very sad for his daughter.:(

[saigon68]

9. kick

There are over 350 posts to the "Date a Stripper" thread amd 8 here

[mbperrin]

13. Considering the country you're now living in,

does this surprise you in any way? Shock yes, surprise, sadly, no.

Thanks for all you do, saigon68!

[saigon68]

17. Doesn't surprise me at all

Its sad really

And thx for the prop

[UpInArms]

10. he trusted his country not to send him off to an illegal war

and he trusted his mother to take care of his daughter.

This is so screwed up, I just can't begin to say it.

[sarcasmo]

11. Where is the good Christian line in that story like their is in every

other scandal.

[UpInArms]

14. the thief donated a piano to her church

An investigation revealed Espinoza wrote a thousand or more checks for cash and to purchase items including a time-share rental in Florida, vehicles, jewelry and a piano that was donated to a church.

[malaise]

12. She was an ordained Minister

WTF is wrong with these people. One more criminal hiding behind religion. GUess her mentor is Jezuzbush.

[EFerrari]

15. What is the matter with people. n/t

[DiverDave]

16. She spent the whole THING??

On used cars and time shares?

There is money somewhere, the cops need to find it for his daughter.

Cold hearted bitch, is what she is.

[IKScott]

18. I agree

How can someone take money from their own grandchildren. She's about 56 years old, hell make her work until she gets 250,000 bucks up to give back to the kid by the time she turns 18, then throw her in prison.