Highland Park millionaire's ex-nurse not guilty of theft

The former personal nurse of a Highland Park multimillionaire was found not guilty Friday of using her influence over the man to make herself rich.

Lake County Associate Judge George Bridges acquitted Mary Williams, 70, of financial exploitation of an elderly person and criminal neglect of an elderly person after a bench trial held periodically since the start of this year.

Prosecutors claimed Williams, now of Reno, Nev., took advantage of the deteriorating mental and physical health of S. Edward Marder, who employed her from 1992 until his death in 2007 at age 93.

Assistant State's Attorney Christen Bishop argued Williams, who largely controlled Marder's finances after the death of his wife, unjustly inflated her salary and obtained other benefits in an underhanded way.

Prosecutors never presented a specific amount Williams collected through her acts, but instead presented evidence she collected more than $450,000 in salary in 2004 and had possession of a car and several works of art once owned by Marder.

But defense attorney Thomas Breen of Chicago countered that there was ample evidence Marder was aware of the payments to Williams he was authorizing and wanted the woman to have the money.

Bridges said the prosecution of Williams, who could have been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, was undone by witnesses who testified they met with Marder to discuss his finances.

Bridges said those witnesses, who included accountants, bank executives, lawyers and Marder's son, all testified Marder was alert and lucid during the financial meetings and appeared to understand what was being said.

Marder, who was worth an estimated $44 million when Williams went to work for him, often referred to her as his "daughter" and wanted her to have the things he gave her, the witnesses said.

In finding Williams not guilty of criminal neglect, Bridges said there was no evidence Williams intentionally gave Marder a prescription drug in 2005 and 2006 that had a negative effect on a pre-existing medical condition he had.

Williams, who wept throughout Bridges' announcement of his verdict, left the courtroom with her family without comment.