Man accused of scamming elderly Louisville woman out of her home faces new charge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A man accused of scamming an elderly Louisville woman out of her home faces a new charge.

Russell Cheatham was arraigned Monday on a burglary charge after previously being charged with identity theft and criminal possession of a forged instrument, according to court documents.

According to Louisville Metro Police, Cheatham put his name on the deed for a home on South 26th Street while 89-year-old Dorothy Tarpin was living in a nursing home.

Tarpin's family found out when the facility said Medicaid would no longer cover her stay because she made money from selling her house. But she never sold the house. Cheatham took the home by forging her signature on documents.

Police said he also took furniture, jewelry, clothes, appliances and two guns from Tarpin's home, leaving it completely empty.

Cheatham is out of jail on bond.

Previous Coverage:

Caught on camera: Louisville family confronts man accused of stealing 89-year-old’s home