South Carolina resident arrested for stealing nearly $1 million from grandmother

INDIANA — A South Carolina man has been arrested in Jefferson County after investigators say he stole nearly $1 million from his grandmother while serving as her legal guardian.

Indiana State Police reported that Eric Dyer, 54, of Batesburg, South Carolina, was taken into custody Thursday morning at a hotel in Madison.

The investigation began in May 2024 after a financial institution flagged suspicious transactions involving the accounts of an elderly Jefferson County woman. Detectives learned that Dyer was named his grandmother’s power of attorney and legal guardian in 2021, while she lived in an assisted living facility in Madison.

A review of bank records showed that between 2022 and 2024, Dyer allegedly withdrew close to $1 million from her accounts for personal use. Investigators also found he had fallen behind on payments for his grandmother’s care.

The Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the case and issued a warrant for Dyer’s arrest. He faces multiple felony charges, including theft, money laundering, corrupt business influence, and neglect of a dependent, along with a misdemeanor charge of elder abuse.

Dyer was booked into the Jefferson County Jail and is expected to appear in court soon.