In a shocking case out of Clay County, allegations have surfaced against a Wichita Falls couple accused of attempting to exploit an elderly woman by threatening to abandon her in a nursing home unless she transferred all her property and power of attorney rights to them.
Authorities have charged William and Kimber Dunkelberg with exploitation of an elderly person and making false statements to obtain property, following the intervention of an attorney representing the victim. The couple's alleged scheme came to light after the attorney alerted the sheriff's office about their attempts to gain control over the woman's assets while she was admitted to a care center in Henrietta.
The distressing sequence of events reportedly began when William Dunkelberg arrived at the care center on the day his mother-in-law was scheduled for discharge. He allegedly presented her with documents that would transfer ownership of her home, land, and mineral rights—valued at over $300,000—to him and his wife. When she refused to sign, William purportedly threatened to leave her stranded in the nursing home, warning that she would be responsible for covering her own expenses there. Following her refusal, he left without her.
Further investigations revealed more alarming details. The victim discovered that Kimber Dunkelberg had previously filed paperwork without her knowledge or consent that effectively deeded her property and rights over to herself and William. Moreover, while confined to the nursing home, checks from mineral rights royalties were stolen from her mailbox by the couple, along with other personal mail being tampered with. These checks are typically issued as monthly payments to landowners when natural resources are extracted from their property by oil and gas companies.
The victim also reported that a lease agreement on her mineral rights had been terminated without her approval, cutting off another source of income. Additionally, she found herself locked out of her own property as the gate locks had been changed during her stay at the care center—a further attempt by William and Kimber Dunkelberg to isolate her and exert control.
Authorities have confirmed through medical records that despite these overwhelming pressures, the victim remains fully competent to manage her personal affairs. In support of this finding, Adult Protective Services has initiated a criminal case against the Dunkelbergs on behalf of the exploited woman.
This case highlights not only the vulnerability of elderly individuals but also underscores the importance of vigilance and legal protection against such exploitation. As investigations continue, local authorities are calling for anyone with similar experiences or additional information regarding this case to come forward in hopes of preventing future instances of elder abuse within their community.
Authorities have charged William and Kimber Dunkelberg with exploitation of an elderly person and making false statements to obtain property, following the intervention of an attorney representing the victim. The couple's alleged scheme came to light after the attorney alerted the sheriff's office about their attempts to gain control over the woman's assets while she was admitted to a care center in Henrietta.
The distressing sequence of events reportedly began when William Dunkelberg arrived at the care center on the day his mother-in-law was scheduled for discharge. He allegedly presented her with documents that would transfer ownership of her home, land, and mineral rights—valued at over $300,000—to him and his wife. When she refused to sign, William purportedly threatened to leave her stranded in the nursing home, warning that she would be responsible for covering her own expenses there. Following her refusal, he left without her.
Further investigations revealed more alarming details. The victim discovered that Kimber Dunkelberg had previously filed paperwork without her knowledge or consent that effectively deeded her property and rights over to herself and William. Moreover, while confined to the nursing home, checks from mineral rights royalties were stolen from her mailbox by the couple, along with other personal mail being tampered with. These checks are typically issued as monthly payments to landowners when natural resources are extracted from their property by oil and gas companies.
The victim also reported that a lease agreement on her mineral rights had been terminated without her approval, cutting off another source of income. Additionally, she found herself locked out of her own property as the gate locks had been changed during her stay at the care center—a further attempt by William and Kimber Dunkelberg to isolate her and exert control.
Authorities have confirmed through medical records that despite these overwhelming pressures, the victim remains fully competent to manage her personal affairs. In support of this finding, Adult Protective Services has initiated a criminal case against the Dunkelbergs on behalf of the exploited woman.
This case highlights not only the vulnerability of elderly individuals but also underscores the importance of vigilance and legal protection against such exploitation. As investigations continue, local authorities are calling for anyone with similar experiences or additional information regarding this case to come forward in hopes of preventing future instances of elder abuse within their community.
