Man admits to taking $400,000 from elderly nun

A financial planner admitted Tuesday stealing nearly $400,000 from an elderly nun who entrusted him with her life savings before she suffered a debilitating stroke.

William H. Lofthus, 55, of Plainfield faces up to 15 years in prison for felony theft when a DuPage County judge sentences him later this year.

Bernice F. Laurins died penniless in November 2005. The retired nun was 92.

Authorities said she entrusted Lofthus with her financial matters beginning in 1998 but suffered a stroke in 2002 that left her in a wheelchair and with dementia. Afterward, she moved into the Château Living Center in Willowbrook.

Authorities began investigating Lofthus in late 2004 after the nursing facility reported constant delinquent payments and an outstanding balance of about $40,000. In fact, Laurins faced eviction despite the fact her estate earlier was estimated at nearly $500,000.

A DuPage County grand jury indicted Lofthus after a lengthy investigation in August 2006. Prosecutors said he used the nun's banking account as his own personal piggy bank for five years until the theft scheme unraveled. Lofthus spent the stolen money to pay off his own credit cards and for such extracurricular activities as riverboat gambling and vacations, court records showed.

"William Lofthus took advantage of an elderly person for his own personal benefit," DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said. "He lined his own pockets at the expense of an elderly woman who made the mistake of trusting him."

Lofthus, 17012 Arbor Creek Drive, plead guilty Tuesday to felony theft charges.

He is due in court again March 10, at which time DuPage Circuit Judge Blanche Hill Fawell is expected to set a sentencing date.

Lofthus is free on a $200,000 bond.