‘I didn’t need this': N.S. woman with ALS hurt, angry after caregivers charged with fraud

A Nova Scotia woman with a debilitating disease might have been the victim of fraud.

She doesn’t have any children of her own, but Bonnie Petten often calls her caregivers her daughters.

Petten was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in the fall of 2021 and was given less than three years to live.

“ALS is a demon disease that has taken everything from me,” said Petten, who uses an eye gaze machine to communicate.

Unable to move or speak, she needs constant support in her Amherst, N.S., home from up to 10 different caregivers a week.

But now three of those caregivers are accused of taking thousands of dollars from Petten’s bank account.

“I’m paralytic and mute and terminal and I didn’t need this to worry about,” said Petten.

In November 2023, she noticed a large sum of money was missing from her bank account and notified police.

The Amherst Police Department sent a news release on Feb. 4, stating that three women had been charged with defrauding a vulnerable person.

“Investigation into the matter revealed that three staff members assigned to provide care for the victim had removed large sums of money from the victim’s bank account, allegedly to cover hours they had worked,” stated police in the news release.

“The investigation indicated there were discrepancies between the hours of work reported and the actual hours that had been worked.”

Clara Harvey, 29, Stacy Leblanc, 41 and Gracie Meisner, 20, were all arrested in December and have each been charged with fraud over $5,000.

They made their first court appearance on Feb. 3.

“I was hurt by my daughters and it was a piece of my heart that I will never get back,” said Petten.

The charges against the three women have yet to be tested in court.

Broken trust

Leanne Shaw, Petten’s primary caregiver, said around $58,000 was taken from her account.

Shaw said Petten feels her trust has been broken.

“A thousand per cent,” said Shaw. “You can only imagine. She trusted these people with her home and her dogs, her finances.”

The money is government-funded and allows Petten to live at home with her two dogs.

“I am not able to speak or do anything for myself and I have no choice but to entrust my care to others and to be viewed as a target to these people is insulting,” said Petten.

Originally from Newfoundland, Pellen has received support from her friends and neighbours in Amherst with donations and a GoFundMe campaign.

“The community just blew up over this and really rallied together,” said Shaw.

As far as her health goes, Shaw said Petten is a fighter and is doing OK.

“She’s still with us. She doesn’t need oxygen, she’s not on any machines. She’s doing better than what was to be expected at this time,” said Shaw.

The accused have adjourned their pleas and will be back in Amherst provincial court on March 17.

CTV News requested an interview with a member of the Amherst Police Department for an update on the case, but was told they would not be commenting further at this time.

Police are asking anyone who may have information regarding the incident to contact them at [phone] or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page