Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 12/23/2008

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Terry Menshek - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

FORMER ELDER CARE PROVIDER SENTENCED TO STATE PRISON

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that Marilyn Chandler Fenderson, of Santa Rosa, who was convicted in October of stealing over $300,000 from her former client’s estate was sentenced to serve a term of two years in state prison.  The jury’s guilty verdicts on grand theft and burglary subjected the 55-year-old Fenderson to a maximum 5 year prison term.  The Honorable Elliot Daum sentenced her to the 2 year term on December 18, 2008, and remanded her into custody.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, "Anytime someone takes advantage of the elderly, we will prosecute them to the full extent of the law."

The investigation of this case began when Fenderson refused to turn over her deceased client’s bank account records to the probate attorney.  Approximately three months after the 96-year-old Ms. Katherine Majerus died, Fenderson, who had been assigned special power of attorney over some of the victim’s bank accounts in her capacity as an elder care worker, withdrew $304,000 from the estate accounts without notifying the bank of the death of Ms. Majerus.  Ms. Fenderson then used over $180,000 of that money as a down payment on a home in Larkfield.

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Mark Fuston headed up the investigation, which revealed that Ms. Majerus had prepared a will, leaving the bulk of the estate to Valley of the Moon Children’s Center, Forgotten Felines, and Guide Dogs for the Blind.  Ms. Fenderson was not named at all in the will.

The victim, Katherine Majerus, was ninety-six years old when she died on January 22, 2006.  Her husband, Edward M. Majerus, died several years before she did.  Fenderson was hired to assist Ms. Majerus with her basic needs after her husband died.

Ms. Majerus loved animals and held a special place in her heart for her cats, in particular.  Ms. Majerus' love for animals and empathy toward those in need was reflected in her will, wherein she instructed that virtually all of her assets be divided equally among three charity organizations:  Valley of the Moon Children's Center, Forgotten Felines, and Guide Dogs for the Blind.  Marilyn Fenderson's theft from Ms. Majerus' estate deprived each named charity of a gift which would have exceeded $100,000.00.

Deputy District Attorney Robin Hammond handled the case.