Couple Hired To Help Cancer Patient Stole From Him Instead: Police

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A couple hired to help out a 73-year-old man with cancer instead stole as much as $300,000 worth of items from him, according to police. Sometimes, the man says, they'd break into his home while he was at Bible study or receiving treatments.

WSB-TV reports that Aaron and Janice Brown are being held in Gwinnett County Detention Center on charges they stole from Patrick Toomey. On the advice of a friend, Toomey had hired Janice Brown as a housekeeper and, later, Aaron to do landscaping at his Gwinnett County home.

Toomey, who has prostate cancer, told the station he at first ignored it when food, tools, jewelry and a gun went missing at his home.

"I didn't say anything about those things because they have kids, and if people have to steal food they must need it," Toomey told WSB's Tony Thomas.

But when more high-end items began vanishing, WSB reported, Toomey confronted Janice Brown. She told him he must have just lost the items, but the stealing escalated after the conversation, according to the report.

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Gwinnett County Police said the Browns pawned Toomey's stolen items over a long period of time. They told WSB that, so far, they have recovered about $30,000 worth of his property.

Both Browns also face unrelated charges out of Banks County. Police say they're investigating whether they targeted any other homes.

To read the original report from WSB-TV, click here.

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