ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- A 66-year-old Elkhart woman pleaded not guilty Monday after she was arrested on allegations that she has been stealing from a disabled adult in her care. 

Authorities say 66-year-old Debra Collins was granted permanent guardianship of the victim in 2010 due to the victim's mental disabilities.

As part of the guardianship agreement, Collins was ordered to get permission from the court before spending more than $1,500 or moving residences.

In August of 2020, Collins opened a representative payee account at 1st Source Bank to deposit the victim's Social Security Payments to pay for their expenses.

In October of 2021, the victim was put into a group home before Collins pulled them out of the home in July of 2022.

"On March 27, 2025, an investigator with Adult Protective Services became involved in missing persons investigation regarding [the victim]," court documents show. 

"[The] Investigator obtained bank records from 1st Source showing from January 1, 2025, up until March 30, 2025, Collins withdrew $2,959.00 from [the victim's] account and transferred it to different 1st Source account belonging to her husband Loni Collins."

Authorities say the Collins' spent the money at Amazon, Kroger, Walmart, and online shopping, and no payments made to care facilities, group homes, or other locations of vendors that would be connected to the victim.

When contacted by authorities, Loni said he had not seen the victim in over year and did not know where she was living.

"Investigators then spoke with the bank manager who advised that he spoke to Debra Collins in regards to the bank freezing [the victim's] representative payee account," court documents state.

"[The bank manager] advised that during the course of their conversation on April 4, 2025, Debra Collins admitted that she did not know where [the victim] was located."

Debra Collins is charged with:

• Fraud-Victim is an endangered adult or under the age of 18 with loss b/t $750 & (Aiding, Inducing, or Causing an Offense) - Level 5 Felony
• Theft where value of property is between $750 & $50k. (Aiding, Inducing, or Causing an Offense) - Level 6 Felony

Loni Collins is charged with:

• Fraud-Victim is an endangered adult or under the age of 18 with loss b/t $750 & (Aiding, Inducing, or Causing an Offense) - Level 5 Felony
• Theft where value of property is between $750 & $50k. (Aiding, Inducing, or Causing an Offense) - Level 6 Felony

Debra Collins is due back in court on Aug. 14 with a jury trial set for Oct. 6.

ABC57 is working to get info on the victim, and whether or not they have been located.