Elder Abuse Victim Dies Before Defendant Due in Court

A 94-year-old woman who authorities say was the victim of elder abuse by a woman posing as a caregiver won't get to see the accused in court.

Laura Shelton passed away in March, according to Murrieta Valley Funeral Home.

Shelton turned 94 on Jan. 14, just three days after Murrieta police arrested Aiysheh Kopti, 60, on suspicion of bilking Shelton of more than $2,100 in credit card charges. Kopti also allegedly stole jewelry from Shelton's home.

A Murrieta police investigation revealed Shelton's credit cards were illegally used to charge items at several retailers in Southern California.

Shelton died March 18. The funeral home did not list a cause of death. Shelton is survived by one nephew and will be laid to rest in Mt. Judah Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York, according to the funeral home.

Shelton lived alone in a double-wide mobile home in the Murrieta Hot Springs retirement community. During a with Murrieta Patch, Shelton was happy to be reunited with some of jewelry Kopti allegedly stole from her. The relationship between Kopti and Shelton lasted several months before Shelton began putting two and two together, she told Patch.

Police conducted a two-week long investigation, then served a at Kopti's Murrieta home Jan. 11. She was later charged with burglary, embezzling from an elder, acquiring access to credit cards without cardholder or issuers consent and possessing stolen property.

According to court records, Kopti pleaded not guilty to the four charges and is due in court April 15. She is not in custody at this time.