Caretaker Charged With Murder For Taking Man Off Life Support

Particularly odious allegations in Clinton Township are going to trial:

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/macomb/2025/09/03/caretaker-to-stand-trial-for-murder-after-taking-man-off-life-support/85936207007/

Clinton Township caretaker to stand trial for murder after taking man off life support
By Christina Hall - September 3, 2025
Detroit Free Press

*    Linda Polk was arrested in April, accused of obtaining fraudulent power of attorney over the man and his wife, according to Macomb County authorities.
*    They indicated that Polk is accused of opening a credit card using the man's name after he died.
*    She is accused of buying items with the credit card, including Christian Louboutin boots, according to prior testimony.

A Clinton Township caretaker accused of murdering an elderly Macomb Township man when she told a hospital doctor to take him off life support will stand trial in Macomb County Circuit Court.

Linda Polk, 53, is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 22. She was bound over to the Circuit Court on Aug. 29 after a preliminary examination that spanned two days in August in 41B District Court in Clinton Township.

Polk is charged with one count each of first-degree murder and embezzlement from a vulnerable adult and two counts each of forgery of a document, identity theft and possession of a financial transaction device. In a separate and unrelated case, Polk also faces charges of identify theft, possession of a financial transaction device and illegal sale/use of a financial transaction device, according to online court records.

She is being held in the county jail on a $1 million bond.

Polk was arrested in April, accused of obtaining a fraudulent power of attorney over retired lawyer Steven Zarnowitz, 78, and his wife, Jill Margolick, as well as a quit-claim deed to their home. The couple moved to Macomb County in 2024, according to testimony, after living in Farmington Hills.

Zarnowitz suffered a stroke Oct. 17 and was taken to McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mount Clemens. He died Oct. 19 and his body was cremated, according to testimony.

Polk's attorney, Steven Scharg, indicated in an email Sept. 2 that "we don’t believe there was sufficient probable cause to bind over on the first degree murder count."

He indicated Polk relied on a power of attorney that was notarized by a licensed notary who did not know any of the parties. He said there were witnesses to the power of attorney and none of them were called. Zarnowitz's wife was one of the witnesses.

"As a result, Ms. Polk believed she had the authority to make decisions on his behalf," Scharg said.

County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in an Aug. 29 release: "These are despicable and surreptitious actions allegedly done by this caregiver to one of our vulnerable adult citizens and the family. Many of our aging citizens and their families rely on the trust of caregivers in today's society. These actions will not be tolerated. This office will zealously pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law to protect our vulnerable adults and their families from such an atrocity."

Testimony indicated Polk was the only one listed as next of kin for Zarnowitz on paperwork and that she identified herself as his niece to a doctor, who testified that Polk made the decision to take Zarnowitz off life support.

Testimony indicated that Polk had been providing in-home care for Margolick for several years after the older woman had COVID-19 and became bedridden and Zarnowitz hired nursing care for his wife.

According to testimony, Polk identified herself as Zarnowitz's niece and mentioned him as her dad when talking to a credit card company about a credit card in his name that was opened after his death. She is not related to Zarnowitz, according to testimony.

Authorities also were notified by the Macomb County Register of Deeds, after a name search, that there was a quit-claim deed for the couple's Macomb Township address. The office determined the deed was fraudulent.

A Clinton Township police detective testified that after Zarnowitz died, Polk opened up credit cards in his name, using one at multiple locations, including to buy a pair of $1,600 Christian Louboutin boots.

The detective also testified that in the credit card fraud case, there was a no contact order and a violation of that order by Polk. He testified that Polk changed her last name from her maiden name to her married name and tried to get a job at the assisted living location where Margolick was living.