By Rich Pollack
It has been more than four years since David Del Rio was arrested on charges of defrauding an 85-year-old Highland Beach widow and her late husband, and now it appears the case likely will go before a jury in March.
At a trial set for March 6 in front of Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Gillen, Del Rio will face as many as 72 counts of grand theft and exploitation of the elderly, with prosecutors contending he siphoned nearly $3 million from Betty and William Cabral over six years.
The charges came as detectives were investigating Betty Cabral’s April 2018 homicide, only the second in Highland Beach’s more than 70-year history. No charges have been filed in connection with the homicide and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.
Del Rio, who has been under house arrest since January 2019, had served as the couple’s financial adviser.
“Mr. Del Rio is looking forward to his day in court,” said defense attorney Michael Salnick.
While prosecutors have contended that Del Rio took advantage of his business relationship with the Cabrals and used their trust to deduct money from bank accounts, Salnick has argued that all the transactions were above board and with the Cabrals’ consent.
Salnick said that delays in bringing the case to trial are the result of the coronavirus pandemic and of the need for a lot of groundwork to be done.
“There is a lot of evidence in this case,” he said.
The body of Betty Cabral was discovered on April 30 in her Highland Beach condo by police after her car was found abandoned in Broward County. Her throat had been cut, according to statements made in court by prose-cutors.
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