Police: Anamosa woman took thousands from dead mother

An Anamosa woman is accused of profiting from her mother's death.

According to the Anamosa Police Department, 54-year-old Susan L. Hopfensperger has been taking annuity account checks from her mother's account, despite her mother dying more than two years ago in October 2011. Annuity checks are monthly payments made to an individual that paid a life insurance company a single premium, which is, in turn, redistributed back over time.

Police said Hopfensperger didn't report her mother's death to her life insurance carrier and continued to collect and cash the checks issued in her name.

Additionally, Hopfensperger - who has power of attorney of her mother's estate - allegedly removed money from her mother's account that had been intended be divided among family members as laid out in the woman's will. Police said Hopfensperger took nearly $45,000 for herself from her mother's account.

Hopfensperger was arrested Wednesday on one count of first-degree theft, a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.