A West Hills woman allegedly forged power-of-attorney documents to steal millions of dollars in real estate assets from at least two men who reportedly died under questionable circumstances, including one victim whose body has never been recovered, according to federal prosecutors.
Caroline Joanne Herrling, 43, also known as Carrie Phenix, was charged earlier this month with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. She remains in custody following a lengthy investigation that also involved the U.S. Postal Service.
Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office allege Herrling, along with unnamed co-conspirators, stole the identities of victims who owned real estate, disposing of the body of at least one victim to make it appear that he was still alive.
Deaths of victims hidden
“Defendant Herrling would also attempt to hide the death of one of her victims by hiring persons to impersonate him and to falsely claim to have seen him alive,” according to charging documents.
Authorities confiscated digital devices from Herrling that allegedly contained internet searches for “millionaire” and “obituary,” suggesting she was looking for rich, dead individuals as potential targets, Los Angeles police homicide Detective Mark O’Donnell said in a 55-page probable cause affidavit.
One of Herrling’s alleged victims was 71-year-old Charles Howard Wilding Jr. of Sherman Oaks, described by neighbors as a recluse who mysteriously vanished from his Kingswood Road home sometime in the fall of 2020.
Two LAPD officers who responded to a missing person report went to Wilding’s home on Dec. 21, 2020, where they encountered Herrling, who identified herself as Wilding’s trustee, the affidavit says.
Herrling allegedly told the officers Wilding was staying with friends in Carpinteria in Santa Barbara County, while she worked to get the house back in order, as it was in disarray and…
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