An Armstrong County woman was called a predator Thursday, Sept. 28, in Butler County Common Pleas Court before she was sentenced for stealing $4,000 from an elderly couple.

Tracy Lee Golden, 53, of Kittanning was sentenced to serve 36 months of probation and pay $4,000 in restitution to Clair and Janet DeLair of Center Township after pleading guilty to a felony charge of theft by unlawful taking filed by state police in October 2022.

In a victim impact statement, the victims’ daughter, Joy Psik, said Golden preyed on her parents through lying, cunning and manipulation. She said Golden spent the stolen money on a pedicure, manicure and a beach trip.

In an affidavit, police said Golden’s former employer told investigators that Golden stole $4,650 in cash from his client, Janet DeLair, between Aug. 9 and Sept. 24, 2022. The employer said Golden was a caretaker for Clair DeLair, who is immobile.

The former employer and Janet DeLair told investigators that Golden admitted on Sept. 24 to taking $400 from the home, according to the affidavit.

Janet DeLair told police she withdrew $5,000 from her bank account on Aug. 9 and placed it in a filing cabinet in a back room. She said she noticed the money started to go missing, so she placed a camera in the room. The camera recorded Golden enter the room and remove an envelope containing the remaining $350 while wearing gloves, police said. Golden didn’t take the $350, police said.

“Tracy Golden in a predator,” Psik said. She said she is disappointed that another felony charge was being dropped in the plea agreement.

“I’m very sorry,” Golden said to Psik.

A neighbor of the DeLairs also spoke on their behalf.

Judge Timothy McCune said he didn’t add more penalties to Golden’s sentence because he wanted her to be able to work to raise the money to pay the restitution.