News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office investigates elder-abuse case

Posted: Oct. 10, 2008, 10:13 a.m.

Photo: Connie Gay Cole

CCSO # 06-42130

In December 2006, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) investigators first became aware of a significant financial elder-abuse case.

Beginning around October 2005, Connie Gay Cole, age 48, allegedly began illegally obtaining large sums of money from her elderly grandparents, Ann and James Morgan, who were born in 1915 and 1913.

At the time, Connie Cole was residing in Gladstone -- living in a home that the Morgans had purchased for their granddaughter. Cole was initially able to coerce $90,000 from her grandparents by claiming she was involved in a bogus lawsuit.

In February 2006, Connie Cole moved her grandparents out of a retirement center and into her home. Cole assured the Morgans she could provide better care for them than they were receiving in the retirement center.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Detectives report that Cole then obtained power of attorney over Ann and James Morgan. Between February and December 2006, after obtaining complete control of her grandparent's financial accounts, Connie Cole depleted those accounts of over $400,000.

Sheriff's Office investigators report that Cole spent this money on numerous cars, trucks, boats, jet-skis, camping trailers, jewelry, luxurious meals and gambling. According to one witness who came forward, Cole purchased a home in Sheridan in order to be closer to Spirit Mountain Casino.

As Cole was "caring" for her grandparents, she was charging them $7,000 a month for her services -- and detectives also report that Cole was simultaneously receiving assistance from the State of Oregon.

Family member Elaine Judd became aware of this situation around November 2006, and assumed the role of an emergency conservator representing the Morgans. Unfortunately, by this point, the Morgans' entire life savings had been totally depleted and squandered by Cole. The Morgans only remaining source of income was Social Security, and the Morgans were moved to a foster-care facility.

Even after Elaine Judd became the conservator, Cole continued to brazenly use the Morgan's debit card to purchase meals and motel rooms and to obtain cash at various casinos.

During the course of this criminal investigation, Cole was interviewed by investigators and admitted to making numerous purchases of cars, trucks, jewelry, jet-skis, trailers and boats -- saying they were all for the pleasure of her grandparents.

During the investigation, none of these items Cole purchased were ever located or recovered by authorities. None of the items were ever used to care for the victims.

This criminal investigation required over one year to thoroughly investigate -- owing to the vast amount of bank records that were subpoenaed and reviewed and the large number of investigative interviews. The investigation also involved multiple state and local agencies, including CCSO, the Department of Human Services, and Clackamas County Senior Services.

The complete criminal investigative file was presented to the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office. One of the veteran primary investigators states: "This was one of the worst and most blatant cases of financial elder abuse and welfare fraud I've ever seen."

In May 2008, a Grand Jury returned a criminal indictment against Cole on numerous charges, including:


On June 18, 2008, Connie Cole was arrested by CCSO Detectives at her McMinnville residence. At the time of her arrest, Cole was living with a convicted sex offender on parole who was listed as a dangerous sex offender. Cole was lodged at Clackamas County Jail. A photo is linked above.

On 10-03-08, Connie Cole accepted a plea deal -- pleading guilty to numerous counts of theft, criminal mistreatment and welfare fraud. Cole was sentenced to 75 months in prison.

[END]

Contact Info: Jim Strovink, Detective