A home healthcare worker is wanted and accused of stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of items from a Bellaire couple in their late 90s who he was hired to care for.
Walter Portillo, 40, has been charged with theft and is wanted. Police believe there could be additional victims.
The mugshot provided by authorities is an old booking photo. Investigators believe he might now have cornrows.
Portillo had been working at the couple’s home since late July, according to court records, and sometimes worked late-night or overnight shifts.
“No one would be aware of what’s happening when you’re asleep,” Det. Emily Aguirre said.
Around Christmas, the 96-year-old woman noticed cash and other items, like silver dollars, jewelry, and silverware, appeared to be missing, according to court records.
“The son kind of just thought it was his mother’s old age she might have misplaced an item here or there.”
The family later contacted police and investigators found that several of the missing items had been pawned at a shop on Bissonnet Street after searching a national database.
The items tracked there, according to records, include rings, bracelets, forks, earrings, and more.
One of the items stolen and pawned included a wedding ring that was 76 years old, according to Det. Aguirre, which is “the length of their marriage.”
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Investigators visited the shop and with the owner’s help, were able to find the stolen ring as well as records and a photo connecting Portillo to the pawning.
Other items are still missing, Aguirre said.
The ring has been returned to the family, and Aguirre said they are grateful as the woman plans to pass it on to her granddaughter.
KPRC 2 News contacted the home health care company the family told law enforcement Portillo worked for, but a man who identified himself as the owner on the phone said Portillo hasn’t worked there for more than a year.
“We have no association with Walter Portillo,” he said. “He was fired for insubordination.”
Court records show Portillo also got arrested for drug possession in 2021, but the case ended up getting dismissed after he completed a pretrial diversion program.
Det. Aguirre said Aguirre may have continued doing business under a different name or organization after being terminated.
“It kind of just highlights the importance of keeping things safe, anything as far as not just jewelry, not just money, but information such as social security numbers, birth certificates, keeping those kinds of things safe,“ Aguirre said. ”You might trust somebody to take care of your parents, but you don’t really know this person. You don’t know them entirely.”
Anyone with information on Portillo’s whereabouts should contact the Bellaire Police Department. Other possible victims are also encouraged to come forward.
For more information on what to watch out for to prevent the financial exploitation of seniors, click here.