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Two arrested for financial elder abuse in Turlock
Police seek additional victims
TPD

A seven-month investigation into financial elder abuse resulted in the arrest of a Turlock Irrigation District employee, who is now on administrative leave, and an accomplice on Thursday.

Turlock Police Detectives began their investigation in March of this year, after receiving information from the elderly victim who reported the fraud.  The investigation revealed an intricate scheme to obtain control of the victim’s finances in an apparent effort to defraud the victim out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.  

On Thursday, Turlock Police detectives arrested Turlock residents Kevin Edwards, 55, and Andrea Bodine-Edwards, 53, on warrants for financial elder abuse. 
  
Kevin Edwards, a Credit and Collections Manager at Turlock Irrigation District, met the elderly victim in May 2021. The individual was seeking assistance with his TID account.  From this contact, Edwards befriended the elderly victim and took steps to gain control of his life. 
 
Administrators with TID are aware of and cooperating with this investigation.  As a result, they placed Edwards on administrative leave shortly after learning about the allegations. 
 
Due to the nature of these types of crimes, and the paper trail of evidence, multiple search warrants were obtained and served throughout the course of this investigation.
 
Edwards was arrested during a traffic stop a short distance away from his home.  He was booked at the Stanislaus County Jail on the arrest warrant for burglary, financial elder abuse and embezzlement charges.  His bail is set at $85,000. 
 
Andrea Bodine-Edwards was arrested in front of her home without incident.  She was booked at the Stanislaus County Jail on the arrest warrant for financial elder abuse and embezzlement charges.  Her bail is set at $35,000.
 
“We continue to focus our efforts on these types crimes to identify and prosecute those who victimize our elderly residents.  I am asking anyone who has any information regarding this case, or who may have also been a victim of Kevin Edwards or Andrea Bodine-Edwards, to please come forward,” said TPD Detective Jason Tosta.
 
The Turlock Police Department asks that anyone with information regarding this investigation to call Detective Jason Tosta at (209) 664-7324.  You can also contact the Turlock Police Department’s Tip Line at (209) 668-5550 extension 6780 or email at tpdtipline@turlock.ca.us
 
The Turlock Police Department is an active participant in the Crime Stoppers Program.  Callers can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 and may be eligible for a cash reward.