The Elk City man wanted for allegedly exploiting his elderly mother has been located and arrested.
According to the Elk City Police Department, 38-year-old Robert Wade Leyja was located and arrested by Sayre police in Sayre on Tuesday night.
Leyja was charged late last month with one felony count of exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult by deception or intimidation after allegedly financially exploiting his elderly mother. The charges stem from an extensive investigation by the Elk City Police Department and Adult Protective Services (APS).
According to official reports, Leyja allegedly misused funds and assets belonging to his 78-year-old mother, who suffers from Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and memory loss. Investigators found that Leyja had gained unauthorized access to his mother’s financial resources, withdrawing thousands of dollars from her accounts without permission.
The affidavit states that Leyja, who was living in his mother’s home, manipulated her into giving him money and making financial transactions on his behalf. Reports from APS reveal that the mother had expressed concerns about her son’s behavior, claiming she felt pressured into signing over money and was often left without sufficient funds for her own needs.
Police and APS investigators began looking into the case after receiving multiple complaints. Interviews with family members and financial records reportedly confirmed that Leyja withdrew large sums of money from his mother’s bank account and used it for personal expenses, including retail purchases and bill payments.
A critical piece of evidence included bank statements showing unauthorized ATM withdrawals and witness testimonies from store employees who recalled Leyja frequently accessing his mother’s accounts.
Additionally, it was discovered that Leyja attempted to prevent further investigation by convincing his mother not to pursue legal action. However, APS officials determined that the mother was being financially manipulated and lacked full understanding of her rights.
Bond for Leyja has been set at $10,000. A court date is pending.
