West Virginia woman sentenced to prison after stealing from elderly client she cared for

OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. (WTRF) — A Wheeling woman was sentenced to three to twenty-five years in prison after being convicted of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person and Failure to Appear.

According to Ohio County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Shawn Turak, in September 2022, Rebekka Hammerstone was indicted by the Grand Jury for multiple theft-related offenses against an elderly couple for whom she was assigned to care in the evening.

During her brief employment in the home, Hammerstone is alleged to have stolen money and jewelry and committed identity theft against her client, who was blind and needed assistance overnight.

According to officials, during the investigation, Wheeling police officers were able to recover the stolen jewelry and ensured the victims were reimbursed for the stolen funds.

The Ohio County Prosecutor’s Office presented the case to the Ohio County Grand Jury, and Hammerstone appeared for arraignment in September but did not show up for her pre-trial hearing in December 2022, which led to the felony “Failure to Appear” charge and conviction.

Officials say she was arrested in March 2024 on unrelated misdemeanor charges, including Possession of a Controlled Substance and Shoplifting in Marshall County.

Hammerstone’s bond was revoked on her felony Ohio County charges and she entered a plea of guilty to “Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person” and “Failure to Appear on June 15, 2024.

On July 30, officials say Hammerstone was sentenced by Ohio County Circuit Court Judge David Sims, who imposed a sentence of 3-25 years in prison for her crimes.

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