GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — An elderly cancer patient says the couple he hired to help him during his medical treatments stole more than a quarter-million dollars worth of items from his home.
In an interview with Channel 2's Tony Thomas, Patrick Toomey, 73, is suffering from prostate cancer and can't move around the house very well. He says he never expected to be targeted.
Toomey hired Janice Brown to clean his home, and then added the husband, Aaron, for landscaping.
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When he noticed some high-end items were missing, he says he confronted the woman and she insisted he likely lost them and that she would be able to find them for him.
But instead of helping him, Toomey says the stealing escalated. He noticed tools, jewelry, a gun and even food disappearing.
"I didn't say anything about those things because they have kids, and if people have to steal food they must need it," Toomey said.
Toomey called police. Detectives have been able to find $30,000 worth of Toomey's tools at area pawn shops.
“They got back these three and shoot that was like Christmas because I didn't expect anything back," Toomey said.
Gwinnett police said the Browns teamed up to take the items, then pawned them off over a series of months. Toomey says after her fired them, they even broke into his house while he was receiving treatment and at Bible study.
We were in court Wednesday as Janice Brown’s husband Aaron appeared before a judge.
“I think you are a poor risk to the community to release on bond,” the judge told Aaron.
Both Browns remain held in jail. They also face unrelated charges in Banks County.
“I'm sure glad that he's in jail,” Toomey said.
Gwinnett Police say it's unclear at this point if the housekeeper and her husband might have targeted other homes, but it's something that is being looked into.