Sunday, May 3, 2009

Elder Abuse Series Honored

Elder Abuse: A Silent Shame

Excerpt:
Kathleen Simane, a court-appointed guardian, used her position to steal more than $75,000 from her dying great-aunt, Helen Fabis of Edgerton. Simane, of St. Paul, Minn., who spent money on a car and breast augmentation, was caught and sentenced to two years in prison, extended supervision and $78,289 in restitution to the Fabis estate.
Elder Abuse: A Silent Shame: Day 4: Easy targets

Elder abuse: A silent shame

ASA Honors Elder Abuse Series

Award Winning Newspaper

Helen Fabis died in April 2001. Helen's great-niece Kathleen Simane was temporary guardian while Helen was sick and was personal representative of the estate after Helen's death.

Kathleen Simane, former Co-Host of The American Outdoorsman TV Show, used her position as guardian to steal from her dying great-aunt. Simane was charged in Rock County Court.



20 comments:

Anonymous said...

"A Silent Shame" is very well done -- and an award winning series!

LoriView said...

Grannynapping such as this by a relative with criminal intent must be punished with jailtime. There is an exception to kidnapping charges, however: when the defense to grannynapping is claimed to be a rescue from unlawful adjudication and abusive guardianship, requiring different treatment.

Anonymous said...

I think it's particularly fitting that the perp (Kathy Simane) went from TV to Prison.

It's too bad that's not her permanent home!

Rosey said...

OMG! She stole her great aunt's life savings and used part of the money for breast augmentation surgery! Maybe she thought bigger boobs would help her TV career. LOL
Now she can parade them around the women's prison

Sylvia Rudek said...

Thank you NASGA for remembering Helen Fabis who passed away late in the evening on Arpil 30, 2001.

Although it has been 8 long years, time has not dulled or taken away our deep sorrow nor has it stopped our tears.

We cannot erase the memories, we still see and feel her fear and distress. We see and hear her silently screaming, her desperate pleadings for our help to ease her pain, as we stood by her helpless, unable to stop the torture, the inhumane treatment of our beloved family member.

We could not help her, we were forced to watch her suffer without any comfort care, without food or even a sip of water.

Our hearts are forever broken knowing how the guardianship system seized her, betrayed her and how that guardianship system failed miserably to protect her from great harm and abuses by her temporary guardian who used her court appointed position for financial gain.

Thank you Dean Mosiman and the Wisconsin State Journal for
Elder Abuse: A Silent Shame

Thank you for your public service, for your dedication, hard work and ongoing efforts exposing the many predators, for exposing our national shame of the many forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation of those who trust and depend on us, on society and the courts to protect them from neglect, abuse and harm.

Anonymous said...

Kathleen Simane was a TV personality? My oh my what a long, hard fall!

It must eat her up that she's lost her celebrity. I hope so.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry, Sylvia, for the pain Kathleen Simane caused your dear aunt and worse than that, that you were powerless to help her.

I do not believe guardianship victims or their families ever fully heal. The hurt is too deep; the pain too intense; the loss too hard to express.

I am sure that your Aunt watches you from heaven with pride and smiles.

Anonymous said...

Kathleen Simane surely must be a sociopath. Only a sociopath would do what she did to her aunt.

Did she give a passing thought to her aunt as she lay dying?

I would imagine the only time Simane felt anything was when she got caught. I imagine that had her feeling very sorry -- that she got caught.

Anonymous said...

I agree, Rosey!

StandUp said...

The "A Silent Shame" is an excellent series.

And I was also glad to see Kathleen Simane held accountable for stealing from her vulnerable aunt, Helen Fabis.

One look at the picture of Helen Fabis, and you know Kathleen Simane is heartless.

Anonymous said...

Kathy Simane always dreamed of being famous, a star.

Instead Kathy Simane is infamous.

Anonymous said...

Kathy Simane's star has fallen about as far as possible. What she did to Helen Fabis will follow her the rest of her miserable life.

I wonder if she's happy with her breast augmentation now?

Anonymous said...

This is sad. To the Fabis family, I am so sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

Your Aunt was very lucky to have had such a niece as you, Sylvia.

Anonymous said...

I like this judge. It's really good to read a story about one who didn't get away. My faith in our country is somewhat restored knowing that the justice system was successful in this case against the guardian Kathleen Simane. This thief Simane never thought she would get discovered or dragged into a courtroom cause most of these thieves get away with it or if they are caught they usually get only probation or community service. She deserves a very long prison sentence and double long for even thinking such a horrible thought of stealing money from an old person who could not even fight back.

Anonymous said...

There are two types of people:

PREADATORS and their PREY

Concerned Citizen said...

To: NASGA

Is Kathy Simane using the name Kathy Larson to train gun dogs in Minnesota?

How can a convicted felon be legally using guns to train dogs just because she uses a different name?

This doesn't seem right or legal to me. Kathleen Simane aka Kathy Simane aka Kathy Larson should be thrown back in Wisconsin prison for this.

From: Concerned Citizen

Anonymous said...

Kathy Simane and Kathy Larson are the same person. She is so BOLD! You would think she would be ashamed and hide. She treats her dogs so much better than she treated her poor Aunt

Anonymous said...

wonder if her clients know that she has been in prison for thief and deception.

Anonymous said...

good question anon