Man arrested after allegedly stealing $1000s from OKC girl who employed him as handyman, caretaker

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — An 81-year-old Subway woman is still trying to recover financially after her handyman and janitor allegedly withdrew thousands of dollars from her bank account over the course of three months.

Alice Dragoo told KFOR that two of her close friends introduced her to Joseph Wisner late last year.

“A really super nice young man who I thought was honest and uncomplicated. I hired him to take care of me when I had shoulder surgery because I didn’t want strangers in the house. [When] I had met him, he was going through a tough time, so I thought I’d help him,” Dragoo said.

Wisner was also hired to help around the house and make minor repairs.

Dragoo and Wisner became good friends and, according to Dragoo, often went out together.

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Dragoo said that one day while they were out, she gave Wisner her debit card to make a one-time withdrawal from her International Bank of Commerce (IBC) account.

Dragoo also gave Wisner her PIN number, he withdrew money and then they continued on with their day.

“But then I got a bank statement and he’d taken my debit card and taken up to $3 to $500 a night from my checking account, my savings, the only thing I’ve had to push for the past few years,” Dragoo explained.

Dragoo said she rarely checks her bank statements, “but that’s how it was. I didn’t get it in time. My mistake.”

During some of these retreats, Dragoo claimed to have been in Colorado to visit family, so she knew something was wrong.

Dragoo confronted Winser but she said he never admitted to taking her money.

Dragoo said the IBC had video footage of Wisner withdrawing from her account at an ATM in N. Portland.

Dragoo and her family were able to produce the video and turned it over to the Oklahoma City Police Department, officials said.

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Wisner was eventually kicked out of her home shortly after she found out.

“It appears he stole her ATM card, used it and came back and replaced it without her knowing,” Msgt said. Gary Knight with OKCPD.

Dragoo said she was a heavy sleeper, so while she slept, Wisner would take her card and use it at night.

Though Wisner never personally admitted to the crime, he texted Dragoo, saying, “I’m sorry I let you down. I’ve let a woman bring out the best in me and tried to woo her, that’s the stupid truth, but I’ve always intended to return what I borrowed. I’m sorry for the pain I caused you. I never wanted to hurt you. Thanks for your help. I love you…”

A text Joseph Wisner sent to Alice Dragoo on April 11. KFOR photo.

However, Dragoo has not yet received this money back.

In addition to the $11,000 in cash allegedly stolen, Dragoo said she lost about $12,000 in family mementos and tools.

“For the first time in my life, I’ve had to ask for help for medication my heart doctor says I need to have. I couldn’t afford it. I could have afforded my medicine even if my insurance paid for most of it. I couldn’t afford the $300. That was what mattered. $300. I didn’t have it,” Dragoo said.

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Dragoo has tried to contact IBC to get her money back, but she said discussions with her bank ended in a dead end.

“The bank said because I went to his place once and gave my card the numbers to withdraw money from the ATM that I gave him permission. You won’t appreciate all the times he’s used it without me,” Dragoo explained.

She said she understands her particular line of business may need to go through society to get the money back, but she doesn’t understand why they haven’t been able to do so before.

News 4 reached out to Dragoo’s dedicated IBC branch but the representative said she had never heard of the situation and was taking our information to pass on to someone else.

We haven’t received a call back.

An arrest warrant was issued for Wisner on July 27.

He was arrested on Monday and now faces charges of second-degree burglary, exploitation of the elderly and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Mug shot of Joseph Wisner. Photo courtesy of Oklahoma County Jail.

“I feel better that he has to pay. I mean he needs to grow up and face what he did wrong and put his life in order. He has a choice,” Dragoo said.

Dragoo wants their situation to be a lesson to others so they can do background research on who they let into their home.

She said she feels like she can’t trust other people now, which she never wanted to do.