CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) — In Hamilton County, a caretaker from Indianapolis stole nearly $29,000 from an elderly woman, authorities say.

Investigators with Carmel Police Department think Adula Valdivia, 49, made 66 charges to credit cards of Alice Galloway, a 87-year-old who lived alone in Carmel from 2023 to 2025. The charges consisted of airline tickets to Chicago, Phoenix and Mexico for Valdivia and her daughter; credit card payments; and funds to a company Valdivia owned but had to close.

Police say Galloway’s health had started to decline, so she contacted Visiting Angels, which provides services for the elderly. Valdivia was tasked to help with daily household tasks, including grocery shopping and check-ins. But, neighbors and family grew concerned when they hardly saw Valdivia.

Amy Smith lives next door to Galloway. She said Galloway always walked to pick up her mail, but, one day, she suddenly stopped doing that task.

Smith said the caretaker discouraged neighbors from checking in, even for small things such as dropping off flowers or helping in the yard. “Our little cul-de-sac is really tight, so to have it happen next door was crazy. We all watch each others’ kids. We all watch each others’ houses when were on vacation.”

Smith said she eventually contacted Galloway’s family after noticing Valdivia hadn’t been around. “It did seem really fishy, and I never felt bad going ahead and raising those flags. On one of the times that Alice had fallen, the fire department got a hold of me. It was when Adula was on one of her trips that was kind of the beginning to the end.”

Smith said Galloway’s niece and her brother would check in. “It’s just so easy to take advantage of people out there or have other people take advantage of the elderly, so don’t be afraid to raise a red flag.”

Valdivia on Thursday night was in Hamilton County jail. Earlier in the day in Hamilton Superior Court 1, she was formally charged with multiple felonies, including theft, fraud, and exploiting an endangered adult for profit.

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