The bank account of the oldest man in America has been restored after his family reported that thieves had stolen his identity and drained the account.
The family of Richard Overton, a 112-year-old Austin resident and the nation’s oldest living World War II veteran, filed a police report last Friday. The family said Overton’s Social Security and bank account numbers were used to make seven withdrawals over several months.
Cousin Volma Overton told The Associated Press the family was shocked when Bank of America asked them to come in and sign for the restored funds. He didn’t disclose how much money was stolen but said it was a “significant amount.”
"Man, I teared up," Volma Overton said. "I couldn't believe it. They made it happen. The executive of the company said he'd take care of this, and he took care of it."
The bank is investigating and Austin police and federal authorities are also looking into it, the family said.
"Everyone wants to get to the bottom of this. I don't think it's going to be long before we know," Volma Overton said.
The money was separate from a 2015 online campaign that raised more than $300,000 to provide for Overton around-the-clock, in-home care.
Richard Overton was born in Bastrop County in 1906 and enlisted in the Army in 1940, according to KUT. He served in the South Pacific from 1940 to 1945, left the Army and eventually settled in Austin, working for a furniture company and later, the Texas Department of the Treasury.
Overton, who’s known for smoking his favorite Tampa Sweet cigars every day on his porch, celebrated his birthday in May with a public party at his home.
He told KUT his goal for his 112th year: “I’m looking to live is about the main thing.”
