(Scypre.com) – In July 2018, West Covina authorities encountered a troubling scene at the home of LaDonna Davis, 74, who appeared frail and disoriented, missing her left thumb and covered in dirt. Police had been alerted to suspicious activity, including strange individuals living on the property and cars constantly entering and leaving.
As they approached, a foul odor pervaded the air. LaDonna, a local figure once famous alongside her late husband, St. James Davis, was suspected to be in a vulnerable state, surrounded by people exploiting her financially. Unbeknownst to the officers, the following year would reveal a devastating tale of elder abuse, fraud, and a complex legal battle.
LaDonna and St. James Davis were famous in West Covina for adopting a chimpanzee named Moe in the 1960s, whom they raised as their child. The Davises were also known for their passion for cars, with St. James having transitioned from boat racing to NASCAR in the 1970s. However, their lives took a tragic turn when Moe was taken away after biting a guest in 1999.
Then, in 2005, St. James was brutally attacked by two other chimpanzees while visiting Moe at a sanctuary, leaving him permanently disabled. Despite their hardships, the couple continued to visit Moe until his mysterious disappearance in 2008.
St. James passed away in July 2018, and as LaDonna struggled with her own health issues, a man named Min Zaw Maw entered their lives. Maw, who shared a love of cars with the Davises, quickly became close to LaDonna, calling her “mommy” and ingratiating himself into their personal and financial affairs.
LaDonna, cognitively impaired and isolated from friends, signed over significant financial control to Maw. Over a year, he drained hundreds of thousands of dollars from her accounts, sold their possessions, and allowed squatters and gang members to take over their property.
Friends and city officials became increasingly concerned as they witnessed the deteriorating conditions at LaDonna’s home. Officers, however, were unable to intervene since LaDonna appeared to have given the squatters permission to stay. Adult Protective Services eventually got involved, finding her living in squalor, surrounded by filth and unable to comprehend the extent of the abuse she was enduring.
In mid-2019, LaDonna was finally removed from her home and hospitalized, leading to a lengthy legal battle over her finances. Maw, despite the mounting evidence of financial exploitation, sought conservatorship over LaDonna’s estate. LaDonna firmly opposed Maw’s efforts, denying that she had knowingly given him control. Nevertheless, Maw managed to claim that he had invested his own money into maintaining her properties.
After months of court proceedings, a settlement was reached in late 2022, awarding Maw $175,000 and the vehicles in LaDonna’s possession. Despite her tragic circumstances, LaDonna was eventually placed in a facility specializing in cognitive care, and her remaining assets were secured through the sale of her properties.
The case, highlighting extreme elder abuse, reflects the growing problem of financial exploitation among seniors in the U.S., particularly those like LaDonna, who become isolated and vulnerable in their later years.