Lawton Woman Charged With Taking $65K From Elderly Uncle: What Families Should Know About Elder Financial Abuse

A 47-year-old Lawton woman is facing a charge of exploiting an elderly or disabled adult after investigators say she took more than $65,000 from her uncle’s accounts while he was in skilled nursing and VA care. Court records show 17 ATM withdrawals, 37 suspicious checks, and thousands in unauthorized debit card purchases, money police say was largely tied to a gambling habit that included trips to Comanche Casino. Denning, who is out on $10,000 bond and ordered to stay away from her uncle, told police she didn’t realize how much she had taken. Her preliminary hearing is set for January 2027, and the charge carries up to 15 years in prison.

Cases like this rarely happen in a single dramatic moment. They build slowly, one withdrawal and one signed check at a time, often while a family member is hospitalized or living in a care facility and can no longer drive, bank, or check a statement on their own. That’s why elder financial abuse is one of the most underreported crimes in communities like ours. The victim may not notice, and the person taking the money is often the one they trust most.

If you have an aging loved one, especially a veteran in care through the VA, there are simple steps that help: review bank statements together on a regular schedule, set up account alerts for large withdrawals, keep more than one family member in the loop, and use a formal power of attorney or fiduciary arrangement rather than informal access. Gambling addiction and financial exploitation both have resources, and the sooner a family asks for help, the more is protected.

Have you had to step in and manage finances for a parent or aging relative? What advice would you give another Lawton family facing the same situation?