Warrants issued for couple accused of stealing thousands from disabled veteran

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (KCTV) - A Belton couple is accused of using their control of an elderly man’s finances to withdraw money from his and sell his house without giving him the proceeds.

According to documents filed with the Circuit Court of Johnson County, Missouri, Devlin and Christina Scanlon of Belton, Missouri, are each charged with two felonies related to the alleged exploitation of an elderly veteran’s finances.

Investigators said the victim of their crimes, whose identity was not released, is not cognitively disabled but has hearing difficulties and dyslexia so he cannot manage his finances on his own.

Documents state that Devlin Scanlon was given signature authority over the victim’s bank when it was opened in February 2014.

Between May 17, 2018, and Sept. 8, 2023, officials allege that Devlin Scanlon withdrew over $32,000 from the and wrote 22 checks against it, 20 of which were deposited into his wife Christina Scanlon’s .

Further details state that during the investigation, the victim lived at the Veteran’s Home in Warrensburg, Missouri, but had previously lived with the Scanlons after they moved him out of his home in Climax Springs, Missouri, in August 2020.

The residence was sold in September 2021 with reported proceeds of $132,750, none of which the victim said he received. Investigators claim the Scanlons moved him out of the home “for the sole purpose of influencing him to execute a warranty deed giving them ownership of the property.”

When officials spoke to the victim in December 2023, the man said he never permitted the withdrawals from his bank . He also said he did not recall transferring ownership of his home and had not approved its sale.

Investigators interviewed Christina and Devlin Scanlon the same day and they reportedly claimed the victim had asked them to “keep the balance low” on his bank , which is why they made the withdrawals.

They also said the Climax Springs property owed $15,000 in back taxes before it was sold, but county tax records proved this claim false.

A warrant was issued for Devlin and Christina Scanlon’s arrest on March 11, 2025.

The State of Missouri is pursuing two felony charges of financial exploitation of an elder/disabled person against each of them. One charge is a class A felony, which calls for no less than ten years in prison if convicted. The other is a class C felony, which calls for no less than three years.

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