Couple Accused of Taking Woman’s House

A married couple accused of bilking the husband’s aged former mother-in-law out of her house and life savings were arrested Thursday on suspicion of grand theft, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said.

Valence H. Drusen, 66, and his wife, Charlotte M. Drusen, 44, were arrested at a house in the 4000 block of Foreman Avenue in Toluca Lake, the former home of Minnie K. DeMaria, 81.

Both were held in lieu of $500,000 bail and were to be arraigned today in Los Angeles Municipal Court.

Valence Drusen, who was once married to DeMaria’s late daughter, was charged in a felony complaint with grand theft of personal property and theft by a caretaker from an elderly adult. His wife was charged with one count of grand theft.

Prosecutors said the Drusens began taking over DeMaria’s property and savings in September, 1988, after the woman gave her former son-in-law a general power of attorney.

After placing the woman in a board-and-care home, the two sold her property and transferred title on her $300,000 stock portfolio to joint tenancy with themselves, all without her permission, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Ardith V. Javan. They also moved into her house, she said.

DeMaria said she did not authorize any of the transactions or sign any documents involved in the transactions.

The two face a maximum three-year prison term for each theft count.