A Carmel caregiver is in jail after authorities say she surreptitiously took over $29,000 from an 87-year-old client over two years, leaving the woman isolated and short on funds. Adula Valdivia, 49, was taken into Hamilton County Jail on various felony counts, including theft, deception, and exploitation of an endangered adult.
According to police and court documents obtained by WISH-TV, Valdivia allegedly charged the victim’s credit cards 66 times between 2023 and 2025. According to investigators, she used the cards to purchase airline tickets to Chicago, Phoenix, and Mexico for herself and her daughter, as well as to make credit card payments and channel money to a firm she owned that eventually dissolved. The suspected victim, 87-year-old Alice Galloway, has received in-home assistance from Visiting Angels, according to detectives. Hamilton County prosecutors have filed the case in Superior Court 1, and Valdivia is still in detention pending trial.
Neighbor Amy Smith told WISH-TV that she became worried when Galloway stopped walking down to pick up her mail. Smith claimed Valdivia stopped neighbors from checking on Galloway, which residents later described to authorities as a pattern of isolation and financial control. Those concerns, according to neighbors, prompted the investigation that resulted in the accusations.
According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, persons aged 60 and above reported more than $3.4 billion in fraud losses in 2023, with average reported losses reaching $33,000, highlighting the expense of tiny, repeated transactions over time. The federal data emphasizes the need for banks, families, and caretakers to keep an eye out for unexpected transfers and report suspected activity as soon as possible. The FBI provides information for reporting suspected elder fraud and preventing future scams.
Indiana law forbids the exploitation of an endangered adult, allowing prosecutors to pursue caretakers who misuse a vulnerable person’s money or property. According to legal summaries and court judgments, unlawful use of an endangered adult’s funds, along with theft and fraud, may be charged, depending on the circumstances and the amount involved. Justia analyzes the statute and how it has been interpreted in earlier Indiana instances.
If you fear a loved one is being exploited, state adult protective programs and local police can take reports and initiate investigations, and national groups keep a list of state hotlines and support programs. The National Adult Protective Services Association advises families on identifying red flags, documenting concerns, and filing reports. NAPSA and the FBI’s IC3 portal collect complaints concerning internet or tech-enabled frauds, which can assist law enforcement in tracking larger fraud tendencies.
Prosecutors in Hamilton County will handle Valdivia’s case in Superior Court 1, and court documents will include any impending hearings or arraignments. We will watch public records and provide updates as the case progresses.
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