An East Penn Township woman faces theft and related charges after transferring $241,000 from the bank account of a man for whom she had been caring.

Maryellen Sutters, 60, of Ben Salem Road, Andreas, was charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, criminal use of a communication facility and intercept communications.

She was arraigned by District Judge Edward Lewis and released on $150,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is Sept. 30.

According to court papers, state police were contacted by the Rapa Law Office on Aug. 4 regarding the Estate of Robert W. Reichard, who passed away July 3.

The man’s bank accounts appeared to have been modified the week before his death, investigators were told, and there were concerns regarding Reichard’s mental capacity, undue influence and/or fraud.

Investigators obtained Key Bank records showing that Sutters submitted an online request adding herself to Reichard’s account on June 29, court papers said.

Bank records show transfers on July 3 of $50,000 and $150,000; July 6 of $40,000 and $90,000, and July 10, $1,000. Those transfers were made to a Key4KIDS savings account belonging to Sutters’ grandson and of which Sutters is custodian, court papers said.

Sutters is not the executrix of Reichard’s estate, court papers said. Troopers obtained documentation regarding the actual executrix of Reichard’s estate and who also had power of attorney.

The Internet transfers of $241,000 were not authorized by the estate, police said. Investigators noted that Sutters is not listed in Reichard’s will and his financial records show no gift of those funds or record that she was given them, court papers said.

Troopers interviewed Sutters at her home on Sept. 1, and she told them that she had known Reichard for many years and cared for him up to his death. She also said she was not his executrix and did not have power of attorney.

Sutters told them that Reichard began having difficulty signing his checks once home health care aides began taking care of him.

She had a conversation with Reichard regarding adding another person on his bank accounts, and before she could finish the conversation, Reichard said he wanted her added to his account, court papers said.

Sutters said she recorded the conversation on her phone, but Reichard was not aware she was recording, she told investigators.

Sutters set up his online banking, because he wanted her on his account, and after several days, she was able to add herself to his bank accounts, court papers said.

She explained that Reichard and her discussed whether he wanted her as a joint account holder, meaning she would have access to the funds upon his death; or whether he wanted her to manage his accounts until this death.

Sutters told investigators that Reichard said he wanted her added as a joint account holder. This part of the conversation was not recorded, she said.

Investigators asked when she added herself to Reichard’s account, and she told them the end of June, about a week before his death. They asked about withdrawals or transfers, and she said that she transferred $150,000 the day he died, and another $90,000 several days later via the Internet, court papers said.

Sutters said she transferred them to her grandson’s account, because she did not want to immediately place the money into account belonging to herself, court papers said. She told police, “I know it looks fishy.”

Troopers asked her what she believed others would say about her transferring money from Reichard’s accounts, and she stated that she didn’t give it any thought.