(Litchfield)--A 53 year old Litchfield woman was arrested and faces charges of forgery, and financial exploitation of an elderly person. According to Litchfield Police, Theresa Thomas was taken into custody as a result of an investigation that began in January.

The Police Department was advised that an 89 year old Litchfield woman was missing around twenty thousand dollars. Thomas, an in home care provider who was authorized to write checks for the victim, is alleged to have written checks to herself as well.

Thomas is charged with making an electronic transfer to a checking account where more checks were written without the victims knowledge. She is also been charged with taking the victim to withdraw resources from a safe deposit box, where some of the proceeds were used to pay for a pre paid funeral. The remainder of those funds were then deposited into a checking account, where additional checks were written.

An investigation is ongoing by the Litchfield Police Department.