Felony charges for post-mortem withdrawals

A Ketchikan woman faces multiple felony charges after allegedly clearing out a dead man’s bank accounts this summer.

Bonita Hixson, 67 years old, is charged with one count of theft in the first degree and three counts in the second degree, as well as first-degree forgery and fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance. All charges are felonies.

According to court documents, Hixson emptied four of Robert Potter’s bank accounts on July 23, the day he died. She allegedly withdrew more than $132,000 in cash or cashier’s checks from Potter’s accounts in four different banks. When police served a search warrant on Hixson’s residence on Dewberry Lane, they allegedly found 16 marijuana plants, which produced approximately 4.5 ounces of marijuana.

Hixson was arraigned in Ketchikan District Court today. Her bail was set at $5,000 cash, and her next court appearance is Oct. 10.

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