A 76-year-old resident of the Spruce Creek South retirement community in Summerfield has been arrested after allegedly conspiring to steal tens of thousands of dollars from an 81-year-old neighbor suffering from severe dementia.
Brenda Joyce Bova is the third suspect apprehended in an ongoing elder exploitation investigation, following the recent arrests of Brenda Lee and Paul Rhodes, who also are charged with taking advantage of the fragile woman.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Bova had been the victim’s neighbor for approximately five years and was well aware of her diminished mental state. Bova allegedly told other neighbors she was going to get Power of Attorney (POA) to take over the victim’s bank accounts, and admitted to investigators she knew the victim had to write notes just to remember basic tasks, like going to the bank.
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) officially deemed the victim mentally incapacitated and lacking the capacity to consent earlier this year.
Despite knowing this, Bova allegedly acted as a co-conspirator and official witness on May 22 to help execute a fraudulent Durable POA, granting Lee primary control over the victim, while Bova established herself as the POA over the victim’s finances.
The affidavit alleges a disturbing pattern of financial abuse that quickly followed:
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Bova convinced the victim to stop using her original bank account and transfer approximately $30,000 into a new account.
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On June 25, Bova called the victim’s retirement company, TIAA. She deliberately impersonated the victim to bypass security protocols and liquidated $30,873.09 in annuity and retirement accounts. Bova falsely claimed the victim’s home was facing foreclosure and directed the funds to an account she and Lee controlled.
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Bova and Lee facilitated the sale of the victim’s vehicle to Rhodes for just $5,000 in cash, despite its actual value being between $11,765 and $13,940. Rhodes flipped the car 32 days later for $8,000. Of the initial $5,000 cash, $2,000 remains unaccounted for.
When law enforcement and DCF investigators began looking into the depleted funds, Bova and Lee attempted to cover their tracks by fabricating and inflating business receipts, the affidavit stated. They altered a $400 notary receipt to show $825 and completely fabricated a $500 accounting receipt in the name of Lee’s boyfriend.
Bova also admitted to receiving a $460 check from the victim’s account, written by Lee, claiming it was for driving the victim “all over the place” and buying a couple of lunches.
Bova was booked at the Marion County Jail on felony charges of exploitation of the elderly, fraudulent use of personal identification without consent, and altering a forged instrument. She was released after posting an $8,500 bond.