Police: Woman stole more than $200,000 from mother, spent $50,000 on psychic hotline

A woman is accused of stealing more than $200,000 from her mother’s bank accounts and spending more $50,000 of that money on a psychic hotline, according to Channel 11 News' partners at

.

Teri Lynn Padgett, 57, of Jeannette, is charged with theft by unlawful taking/movable property and receiving stolen property.

Officials told

that Padgett started taking money in February from accounts her mother had at the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union in Hempfield.

Westmoreland County Detective Ray Dupilka told

that Padgett’s mother suffers from dementia and Padgett has power of attorney over her mother’s assets, which she allegedly used to gain access to the accounts.

Officials with the Westmoreland County Area Agency on Aging noticed unusual activity in the victim's accounts and contacted authorities in July.

Padgett was arraigned and ordered held in the county prison after failing to post $20,000 bond. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 3.

Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for continuing coverage. 

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