A really ugly story out of Macomb County yesterday begs the question: how do hospitals verify powers of attorney when a life hangs in the balance:
Cops: Macomb County woman faked power of attorney to pull life support of elderly man
By Christina Hall - April 3, 2025
Detroit Free Press* Macomb sheriff's authorities: Linda Polk obtained fraudulent power of attorney over victim, instructed hospital to take him off life support, and he died.
* Macomb sheriff's authorities: Polk then authored a fraudulent quit-claim deed on victim's house, embezzled money from the victim.A Clinton Township woman is facing murder and embezzlement charges after Macomb County sheriff's authorities accuse her of obtaining a fraudulent power of attorney over an elderly Macomb Township man and then telling a local hospital to pull his life support, causing his death.
Linda Polk, 52, was taken into custody Wednesday on eight charges, including first-degree, premediated murder, according to a release Thursday from the sheriff's office.
She was arraigned Thursday and ordered held in the county jail on a $1 million bond, the release indicated. No attorney was listed for her case in online records at 41B District Court in Clinton Township.
Her arrest comes after a several-months-long investigation. The sheriff's office indicated Polk began providing in-home care for the 78-year-old man's wife in 2021. Early last year, the release states, the man began to decline in health as well.
He was transferred to a local hospital in October and put on life support. Polk is accused of obtaining fraudulent power of attorney over the man and told the hospital to have him taken off life support, according to the sheriff's office release.
The man succumbed to his unidentified illness and died Oct. 19, per the release. It states Polk did not inform the man's family of his death and used the power of attorney to have him cremated.
Polk also is accused of authoring a fraudulent quit-claim deed on the man's home. Authorities allege she then embezzled a large sum of money, though a specific amount was not provided, from the man and opened and used credit cards in his name.
Sheriff's Office Spokeswoman Jennifer Putney did not release the name of the man or the hospital where he died, but said the hospital is in Macomb County.
She said the man's widow is alive and safe, but declined to provide additional details about her. Putney said the man's family is out of state and that sheriff's authorities say Polk isolated the couple from the family, though she did not explain further.
Putney said Polk was working independently for the family, and the man hired her to help with the care of his wife.
She said the family learned of the man's death at the end of October. Putney said the family was concerned about his death and the welfare of his widow and reached out to the sheriff's office in November.
Putney did not have a specific amount for which Polk is accused of embezzling from the man, saying the investigation is ongoing.
County Prosecutor Peter Lucido stated in a text from his interim communications director: "I am always especially concerned about cases that include allegations of calculated deception and exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The allegations in this case are deeply troubling."
Polk was arraigned Thursday on the murder charge as well as two counts each of forgery of a document affecting real property, identity theft, and the illegal sale or use of a financial transaction device. She also was arraigned on one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult over $1,000, but less than $20,000, according to the sheriff's office release.
A petition for a court-appointed attorney for Polk was filed, with Polk to be appointed counsel after arraignment, according to online court records.
The sheriff's office release indicates Polk is to wear a steel cuff tether and turn over her passport if she posts bond and is released from the jail.
A probable cause conference is set for April 14, according to court records.
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