ORLANDO, Fla. — A woman accused of stealing a home from a 94-year-old woman was who living in a nursing home has accepted a plea deal that will keep her out of prison.
Vivian Smith’s friends came to Channel 9 after a neighbor saw Vanessa Russell removing all of Smith’s belongings from the house she owned for decades in 2014.
Russell had forged a deed and moved into the home, but police weren’t able to immediately get her out.
A search warrant was served weeks later, and authorities removed Russell and her family from Smith’s home.
Russell recently accepted a plea deal with prosecutors. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison, but won’t serve the time if she follows the terms of her 10-year probation and pays Smith back.
Smith is still in a nursing home in failing health and won’t be moving home.
The deed has been transferred and Russell will have to pay Smith $100 a month over a period of 10 years, totaling $12,000 in restitution.
Smith’s friends said they had hoped Russell would get jail time, but said everyone, including Smith, is glad that the ordeal is over.
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