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Two sons of true-crime writer Ann Rule have been charged with allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from their ailing 83-year-old mother to help fuel their drug and gambling addictions.
Rule is the writer of over twenty crime books including “The Stranger Beside Me” about serial killer Ted Bundy.
The author has four sons for whom she pays $25,000 a month for assistance with her business and personal care. Two of those sons, Michael and Andrew, are accused of exploiting their mother financially. Ms. Rule had obtained a protection order against the two from a King County, Washington Superior Court.
Rule is in deteriorating health and has been confined to a wheelchair since falling and breaking her hip in 2013, the court documents say.
"By every witness's account, Andy would pester and bully Ann relentlessly for money, sometimes threatening suicide, sometimes trying to make her feel guilty, sometimes screaming obscenities at her, until she would finally give in and would write him a check," Special Agent Todd Sadler of the Social Security Administration's Inspector General's Office wrote.
It was further noted that Andrew "immediately began violating that order, continuing to demand money," and was arrested.
"Andy Rule admitted that he has battled with drug and gambling addictions for years, and that he used the money provided him by his mother on gambling and strip clubs," Sadler wrote.
Michael had taken over financial control of his mother’s accounts, claiming he was protecting her from Andrew.
He began engaging in "similar tactics of intimidation and coercion to pressure his mother to provide him funds above his monthly salary," the court documents say.
Prosecutors say Michael Rule claimed he needed extra money for his mortgage and other expenses and would "yell at his mother demanding money as she cowered in her wheelchair."
Michael Rule is charged with first-degree theft and forgery.
Andrew has been charged with first-degree theft.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
