Woman with Dementia Changes her Will Naming Police Officers as Beneficiaries

Michael Schwartz filed a legal noticeclaiming no interest in the $25K left to him by 93 year old Geraldine Webber. Ina letter to the county clerk, Schwartz disclaims any interest in the $25K leftto him. He claims that if at the end of the legal proceedings he ends up withthe money he is turning it over to the city of Portsmouth. Webber died ofmalnutrition. The Portsmouth attorney represents the beneficiaries of a willWebber signed. Webber suffered from dementia, which may bring about issuesregarding the validity of her will. 

In addition to Schwartz, the will andtrust names police Sgt. Aaron Goodwin as the beneficiary of Webber’s riverfronthome, stocks, bonds and a Cadillac. Goodwin is being accused influencing awoman to get her $1.8 million dollar estate. Attorney David Ebyclaims Goodwin “knowingly took advantage” of Webber, who was”suffering from dementia,” to “effectively seek to transfer thevast majority of Ms. Webber’s significant assets” to himself. Goodwindenies any wrongdoing. Police officials said they conducted an investigationand nothing criminal occurred, but his visitation with Webber was mostly offduty. 

See Elizabeth Dinan Police Capt. has ‘No Interest’ in $25K Inheritance From Disputed Estate, Sea Coast Online Aug. 7, 2013.

Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.