A local woman entrusted with the care of a senior citizen is due in court Tuesday after she allegedly stole and used the woman’s credit card.

The home health company that employed the woman calls her a “former employee,” and will repay the family for any losses.

Megan Marie Graf is charged with one count of forgery, a class-d felony. In a court affidavit, St. Joseph Police Detective Richard Shelton says the defendant was employed by Freudenthal Home Health and was a caretaker for the woman.

The victim, age 70, is a resident at a local senior care facility. She reported her Visa card and identification were stolen from her purse February 22.

On Friday, February 24, investigators say store video at two retailers show Graf allegedly using the stolen credit card. She is accused of signing the victim’s name to a credit card receipt, which would be an act of forgery. The transaction was worth $83.59, according to the affidavit.

Detective Shelton said in the affidavit that the victim’s IDs and credit card were later found in Graf’s purse.  The court affidavit also asserts that the victim’s son now fears for his mother’s safety, because the defendant knows where she lives.

A judge set bail at $5,000 cash. Graf remains in custody, and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

Joe Freudenthal of Freudenthal Home Health said all criminal background checks, EDL checks, Family Safety Registry checks, and reference checks came back “clean as a whistle” on what he called “this former employee.”

Freudenthal says his company will reimburse the family for any losses related to the charges on her card.

“We are committed to giving first-class care to all our clients and it is SO frustrating to have someone take advantage of the trust we and the family put in them,” Freudenthal said in a social media post.