THOMASVILLE — A 58-year-old Bainbridge woman is accused of exploiting and stealing more than $30,000 from an elderly Thomas County couple.

Resea Ray had been caring for the couple, ages 84 and 94, for about a year when their son discovered money missing from his parents’ checking account and contacted the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect would take the couple grocery shopping, for instance, and return to the car with them. Ray would take the shopping cart back to the store and use the couple’s debit card at an automated teller machine (ATM) at the store to withdraw $600 from the victims’ bank account, said Lt. Tim Watkins, sheriff’s office chief investigator.

“That was her favorite amount,” Watkins said.

The elderly couple did not know how to go online and check their bank account balance, the investigator said.

One one day, Ray used the couple’s debit card to withdraw $600 four times.

The sheriff’s office is in the process of obtaining a search warrant for Ray’s cell phone and banking records.

“She said she was withdrawing the money from her bank account,” Watkins said.

The investigator said the suspect’s banking records are expected to show up on her cell phone.

Ray, of Old Quincy Road, Bainbridge, is charged with two counts of exploitation of the elderly and three counts of felony theft by taking.

The suspect, who was arrested Tuesday, is in the Thomas County Jail awaiting a bond hearing. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820