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My father sold all of his possessions to me over 8 years ago, about the time he began living in my house, in order to ensure that heirlooms stayed within the family. He signed a bill of sale, it was notarized and witnessed. He also made me his durable POA, medical POA, and executor.

People in his current church discovered he has items of worth and they talked him into removing them from our home and turning these things over to them to sell. We were told by church members moving his possessions that they convinced him to designate someone else as his POA and executor, and to change his Will. I have received no formal notice that I am no longer durable POA, medical POA, or executor.

My father is 82, has Alzheimer's and other serious medical issues. The church moved him from our home December 6, 2013, where he was constantly supervised and cared for, and into a church member's basement. They lost his medications, took his cellphone, and failed to get him to his doctor's appointments. We have not been allowed any contact with my father since they moved him.

In addition to taking family heirlooms, church members also took jewelry given to me by my mother before she died, and a number of other items. We asked the pastor of this church to return these items, but he has failed to do so.

I called Family Services to report this as a case of Elder Abuse. They advised me to call Westminster Police Dept. Westminster Police did nothing to stop the removal of my father and possessions from our home.

I have no idea what our legal rights are, but it seems to me that after caring for my father all these years, being brought up to believe that I was to ensure that family heirlooms were passed on to the next generation, and having a reasonable expectation of continued family unity, all mean something. To me, it is outrageous that a group of people can just decide to go into someone's home, alienate our patriarch, and take family treasures that have been with us for generations.

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Hi Furious in Co,

This sounds like a cult issue to me and it could happen to others so I hope that you are determined to see this through. The whole story is horrifying.

Police training is unlikely to include knowing how to spot Alzheimer's disease, especially with someone who seems "okay" in a short interview, so while the police did their best, a physician should be provide the diagnosis of whether or not your father is cognitively able to change his POA and make these decisions.

I agree with pstegman about calling the State's Attorney's office. The fact that the group is "caring" for your father by not taking him to his medical appointments and not giving him his prescriptions should be evidence enough to have him legally examined by a qualified physician.

You had POA and now that's been changed but if a doctor can document when your father’s dementia was diagnosed, the second so called POA is likely to be deemed illegal.

Sadly, I'm not sure how much you'd get back of your family heirlooms, but I hope some can be recovered. Not being near the Colorado area, I'm not familiar with the idea of the particular news show, but if there is enough evidence of crime here any news outlet would be your friend. Elder abuse grabs nearly anyone’s interest and this certainly sounds like financial and even physical abuse.

You are right in not having your father in your home if he was abusive to the kids, but you should have some say about where he is cared for. Please keep us posted on what happens in this case.

Take care,
Carol
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Do your daughters or nephew want to take any action against your father for the abuse they suffere?. At the very least have you arranged counceling for them? This does not sound like a religious organization more like a ring of thieves.
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Call channel 9, 9 wants to know, the church would not want the publicity and I bet things could change very quickly. Any media outlets would be helpful. What did you report to the police? I would have started with kidnapping.
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don't stop with tom martino, contact all news stations see who takes it first. What church is it? Is it part of a larger denomination or what I call a mom and pop, cult or whatever? If part of a large denomination I would contact district offices, someone in charge. If this is a cult type deal check with CBI or FBI, something sound very strange about this story.
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Sounds horrible, but I am equally concerned that you sound much more concerned about the heirlooms being stolen, then about you dad being "kidnapped" and not well taken care of. I pray for his well being and justice to anyone who has taken advantage of him.
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FIC, I can't help feeling that one important point has been overlooked so far: namely, that given the notarised bill of sale, it is you that this 'church' has stolen from. Once the items were sold to you, you had title, your father did not, and he therefore could not give them to anyone. They were no longer in his gift. This is straight theft. Report it to the police as such. Your father's reputation is not in question because given his mental state he cannot be held responsible for his actions.

Bastards. But, å propos, STOP referring to these things as (as per your thread title) your father's belongings. They weren't - they were yours.
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Thank you for your kind responses. I have contacted lawyers, but they all say the same thing - it's too complicated. The church elders are in on this, they've done it before. They took to our house like locusts and even stripped thumbtacks from the walls. I filed a report of elder abuse with Family Services, but they relied on the police officer's report that dad appeared aware of what was going on. I have filed a report with Tom Martino the Troubleshooter. If that goes nowhere, I will get in touch with 9 Wants to Know. Thank you both again.
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Ismiami, the situation is complex. Please don't assume that because only one aspect of a case is mentioned, that there isn't concern for all other aspects.

I have cared for him in my home for the last 8 years. I have also just found out that while here, he abused both of my daughters and my brother's sons. None of them wanted to speak up until he was out of the house. Thus, feelings are shall we say "mixed" at this point. Certainly I will see to it that he is adequately cared for, but not in my house. As to the rest, family heirlooms are the only things I can pass along to the grandchildren. I cannot make up for the emotional damage he has done.
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Abuse? Why would you want heirlooms that reminded you of this dreadful man!!
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Very simply, the heirlooms are from my grandparents and their parents, NOT from my dad. These are items they brought with them from Europe when they immigrated, and include important immigration papers. In my opinion, these things are essential for our family history.

While some of you may feel these things are unimportant, that isn't the issue. The issue was as stated in my original post - the church has taken possession of family goods and I asked for advice in recovering those items. I did not ask anyone to make a moral judgment about the merits of our situation. Neither did I ask to be criticized for my decisions. So if all you care to do is pick and criticize, be aware that I will report your post.
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