Photo: Daniel Roy Meeks
A Marion County man has been arrested after he allegedly duped an elderly Flippin woman into signing a will where he was the lone beneficiary. The man, 62-year-old Daniel Roy Meeks of Summit, also used the COVID-19 pandemic as part of his actions to get the woman to sign the will and give him money. Meeks is also facing charges in Baxter County in connection with the scheme.
According to the probable cause statement in the Marion County case, Meeks started working as a handyman for the woman in October.
In early May, Marion County authorities were notified by Adult Protective Services at the Arkansas Department of Human Services that the victim said she had been coerced into signing a new will which was to leave all of her belongings to Meeks. During the investigation, it was learned Meeks had gone to a lawyer in Cotter, represented himself as the victim’s only child, and had her will rewritten leaving all of her property and possessions to him.
Meeks allegedly used the COVID-19 pandemic to his advantage, telling the victim she needed to stay away from her family and have no contact with them. Meeks also allegedly talked the Flippin woman into taking over $40,000 out of her savings account and opened a new joint account with his name on it. The victim also gave Meeks a check for $6,000 to use as a down payment on a new vehicle.
Authorities also say Meeks allegedly sold tools belonging to the victim’s deceased husband for thousands of dollars.
While being interviewed by law enforcement following his arrest, Meeks said he had declared himself as the victim’s son based on biblical technicalities.
Meeks is charged with theft of property and is being held on a $100,000 bond. Baxter County has a hold placed on him as well for a felony charge of obtaining a signature by deception. The charge is in connection with Meeks getting the lawyer in Cotter to sign the new will.
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