A Washington state couple faces multiple charges for allegedly steal nearly $2.6 million from a 73-year-old man who died in 2024after identifying him through public death notices.
The defendants, Ronald Wisner, 55, and Melissa Wisner, 50, are charged by King County prosecutors with having developed a scheme that included forgery of documents, money laundering and mortgage fraudas reported by The Seattle Times.
According to the investigation, the victim, Michael Flegle, a Boeing engineer, lived alone at his residence in Issaquah and had no close family members.
Sale of goods and falsification of documents
Authorities maintain that Ronald Wisner began investigating Flegle’s property just two days after the publication of the notice of his death, which occurred in April 2024 during a fire in his home.
Six days after the death, the defendant allegedly sold the victim’s vehicle, using a forged signature on the title. Later, he would have deposited checks from the deceased’s bank account.
Prosecutors also allege that Wisner filed a fraudulent will with a court, appointing himself as executor of the estate, which allowed him access to financial assets.
According to court documents, The defendant reportedly transferred approximately $175,000 from a Constancy investment account and about $1.8 million from a Forefront account to his shield watch over.
Likewise, he sold Flegle’s home for about $548,000. Part of those funds, according to the indictment, was used to acquire a property in Edgewood, later sold, with the money deposited in Melissa Wisner’s account.
These actions led to additional charges against her for collaboration in theft and money laundering.
Arrest and search warrants in progress
King County Court issued arrest warrants for both suspects, who are scheduled to appear in court in May. Authorities believe the couple left the state and could be in New Mexico.
Prosecutors indicated that there is no evidence that the defendants had a deep relationship with the victim, which reinforces the hypothesis of a scheme aimed at deceased people without immediate family members.
Court records show Ronald Wisner was previously arrested in 2018 as a fugitive and has a history of failing to appear in court. In 2022, he also faced a civil lawsuit related to a property he claimed to have been promised to him.
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