🏡 $3.2M Senior Scam — Couple Accused of Stealing Home, Land & Life Savings

WEEKLY SCAM ALERTS
Week of July 20, 2025

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SENIOR SCAM NEWS
$3.2M Senior Scam — Couple Accused of Stealing Home, Land & Life Savings

This week, we bring you a story that strikes close to home—both literally and emotionally. In Missouri, a husband and wife have been charged with stealing more than $3.2 million from two elderly individuals over the course of nearly three years.

The case involves forged documents, financial manipulation, and even a stolen home and farm, all allegedly carried out by people the victims knew personally.

Here’s what happened—and how to protect your loved ones from similar abuse.

The Accused: Trusted Faces Turned Exploiters

Trenton Hansuld, 31, and Kirsten Hansuld, 34, owners of TKH Aquatics, a pet shop in Lexington, Missouri, have been charged with:

• Two counts of financial exploitation of an elder or disabled person

• Two counts of stealing over $25,000

• Two counts of filing false documents

In addition, Trenton Hansuld faces one count of forgery and another of filing a false document.

The charges stem from a shocking series of actions that took place between November 2022 and July 2025, in which the couple allegedly gained access to the victims’ finances and property, then systematically drained their wealth.

The Victims: Elderly and Vulnerable

According to Missouri's Office of Special Investigations, the victims—ages 72 and 83—suffer from cognitive and memory issues that made them unable to protect their own interests.

In June 2024, Bank Midwest flagged suspicious activity and filed a fraud alert. Investigators quickly uncovered a disturbing trail of deceit:

• The Hansulds allegedly moved into the victims’ property

• Trenton Hansuld was added to one of the victim’s bank accounts

• Over $800,000 was withdrawn, including monthly $5,000 transfers

• Deeds for the home and farmland were transferred into Trenton’s name

• In total, $1.6 million in cash and $1.6 million in property were stolen

Ray County Prosecutor Camille Johnston said, “If the bank hadn't caught it, they would probably still be doing this.”

Where the Money Went

Prosecutors say the money wasn’t just stolen—it was spent. The Hansulds allegedly used the victims' funds to pay for:

• Personal expenses

• Their exotic pet store business

• Deposits into personal accounts

The victims’ identities—and their relationship to the Hansulds—have not been released. But authorities confirmed the couple personally knew the victims, making this case an especially egregious example of betrayal and elder exploitation.

Justice In Progress

The Hansulds were arrested and arraigned this week. They’ve both pleaded not guilty and are currently being held in Ray County Jail on $250,000 cash bonds each. A release hearing is scheduled for July 23.

Meanwhile, state investigators are continuing the search for the missing funds.

What This Means for You

This case is a painful reminder that elder exploitation doesn’t always come from strangers. In many cases, it’s someone close—someone trusted.

🧾 Review bank statements and legal documents regularly
👀 Watch for sudden changes to property ownership or power of attorney
📞 Stay in close contact with aging loved ones, especially if they live alone
🏦 Encourage banks to place extra protections or alerts on senior accounts
🚨 Report any red flags immediately—don’t wait

Your Voice Could Be the Turning Point

If something feels wrong—it probably is.

Scammers and abusers count on silence. But reporting elder fraud doesn’t just protect one person—it can protect many.

📢 What To Do If You’ve Been Targeted

If you're over 60 or helping a loved one navigate fraud, take action right away:

• 📞 Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline:
  1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)

• 💻 Report it online at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center:
  www.ic3.gov

• 🚔 Contact your local police department or adult protective services

What to Include in Your Report:

✅ Names and relationships of suspected abusers
✅ Financial account activity or suspicious withdrawals
✅ Any new legal documents, such as deeds or POAs
✅ Screenshots, receipts, or notarized filings if available

This story is a sobering call to action. Let’s protect our elders the way they once protected us.