Cops: New Wife Bilked Elderly Husband Out of Breast Job, $100k

They met in a Walmart parking lot last July and were married in September.

That’s how Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies say the story of Eamil Tirey, 76, and Michelle Spivey, 50, began. It ended with Spivey behind bars and Tirey out $109,411.69, investigators say.

The in between began to unfold in October when two friends of Tirey’s, Gerald Cobb and Gary Hodge, told deputies they were concerned for his well-being. The two told deputies Tirey suffered from a host of medical conditions that impaired his ability to make decisions, think clearly and remember things, an email to media from the sheriff’s office stated. They also advised that Tirey had trouble walking without a cane.

Hernando detectives interviewed Tirey about his whirlwind romance and found “he was unable to recall recent events,” the email stated.

Tirey told detectives he couldn’t recall just when or where he met Spivey.

He did, however, recall buying her a vehicle and paying for breast enhancement surgery. He couldn’t attest to the results of the surgery though.

“I am not allowed to touch her,” the elderly man told detectives. “We do not live as man and wife.”

See Also:

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By Oct. 7, enough information had been gathered that a Hernando Court appointed a temporary guardian to oversee Tirey’s finances. No money was allowed to come out of his bank account without the guardian’s approval.

That didn’t stop the flow of cash from Tirey to Spivey, deputies stated.

On Oct. 30, Tirey called his insurance company to obtain a withdrawal from his annuity.

“In the recorded telephone calls, Spivey’s voice was heard in the background giving
instructions to Tirey to have the funds sent over night,” the email stated.

Shortly thereafter, the court declared Tirey incompetent to make his own financial decisions, deputies say. Then on Dec. 18, Tirey struck out from his home following an argument with Spivey, the email said.

He drove to his daughter’s home in Ohio and arrived disoriented, without medications or clothing.

“Spivey made no effort to contact the guardian nor did she report her husband missing to any law enforcement agency,” the sheriff’s office email stated. Spivey’s guardian, however, did go to Ohio to ensure the man’s safe return. He now resides in an assisted living facility.

During the course of the investigation, detectives traced $34,383.46 in withdrawals from Tirey’s bank account between July 1 and Oct. 6. The cashed-in annuity amounted to $75,028.23.

A warrant for Spivey’s arrest was issued Feb. 12. The Florida Highway Patrol caught up with her in Jacksonville on Wednesday. She was charged with one count of exploitation of the elderly and one count of scheme to defraud after being booked into the Columbia County Jail.

Spivey was released on $20,000 bond Thursday.

Image courtesy of the Columbia County Jail

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