Julie Cromer, a 48-year-old fugitive who financially exploited a 77-year-old female Santa Barbara resident, was arrested Wednesday at a Norwalk, Massachusetts residence.
Convicted of financial elder abuse in Santa Barbara County, Cromer failed to appear for sentencing last October and a warrant was issued for her arrest. Authorities discovered she left the country for about one month and was likely living in Massachusetts. "She was in Munich, Germany and possibly other places in Europe," Sheriff's Office spokesperson Kelly Hoover told The Santa Barbara Independent via email.
Cromer met the victim — whom authorities didn’t name — in 2007 at a pug dog rescue event. “Cromer told the victim she was a struggling photographer,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kelly Hoover in a statement. Cromer and victim developed a relationship in which Cromer visited the victim in Santa Barbara several times per year.