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An elderly Patterson woman was taken away to a hospital and her neighbors, fearing the worst, divided up her belongings thinking they were following her wishes.
However, the woman is still alive, and now those possessions are being slowly returned.
A woman, who wants to remain anonymous, blew the whistle on her neighbors -- all of them elderly or handicapped.
"This is not right, this lady has nothing now, they took everything and gave it away," a neighbor said.
Last week, Marguerite Lacore who's in her late 70s, fell unconscious in her apartment at El Solyo Village in Patterson.
Lacore went to the hospital and she was put on life support, the same day a friend who had the key started giving away her possessions.
"The bed, the clothes, she had a breathing machine, they took it, the TV, dishes, glasses, everything," a neighbor said.
On Thursday, the Stanislaus public administrator charged with overseeing estates told neighbors they had to give the belongings back.
Neighbor Alice Gonzales said she took the dresser and suitcase, but later returned them. She said that she took the items because "If she goes, I'll have memories of her."
Another returned an end table with a silver bell, leaving it on the porch.
"I'll be happy to bring it back," that neighbor said.
For some, the actions of fellow neighbors have left them wondering about their own possessions.
"Shouldn't have done it, didn't give the lady time enough to be out the house," neighbor Mary Jefferson said.
The Stanislaus public administrator is satisfied the neighbors didn't act maliciously and are continuing to return belonging.
No charges are pending.
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