53-year-old former teacher accused of murdering elderly mother, suspected tragedy triggered by cryptocurrency investment losses.

The Wellington High Court in New Zealand is hearing a shocking family murder case. 53-year-old former teacher Julia DeLuney is accused of murdering her mother, Helen Gregory, on January 24, 2024. Prosecutors allege that DeLuney attempted to stage the scene after the crime to make it appear as though the victim fell from the attic.

79-year-old Gregory did not trust banks and was accustomed to hiding cash in plastic bags around the house. In September 2023, while Gregory was hospitalized due to a fall, the DeLuney couple had stayed at her home. After Gregory returned home from the hospital, she found the house in poor condition and noticed that the hidden cash had disappeared.

Gregory's friend Cheryl Thomson testified in court that Gregory told her that $51,000 was missing. Thomson recalled, 'She told me unequivocally that the only person who knew where the money was hidden was Julia.'

When Gregory questioned her daughter, DeLuney admitted to investing about $45,000 in cryptocurrency and told her mother, 'Everything is safe, Mom, don't worry.'

Massive cryptocurrency losses revealed, with $156,000 invested in a year leading to total loss.

Forensic accountant Eric Huang, hired by the court, found that from January 2023 to January 2024, DeLuney transferred $156,000 from her bank account to a cryptocurrency platform for investment but only recouped $88,000, resulting in a loss of $68,000.

Huang's report shows that DeLuney's main sources of income included cryptocurrency withdrawals, a $74,800 cash deposit, and a $45,000 bank transfer from her mother. Analysis indicates that in the year leading up to her mother's death, DeLuney's expenditures exceeded her income, and without cash deposits, she could not sustain her expenses. By January 2024, DeLuney's investments had lost nearly $41,000.

Email received two days before the mother’s death, daughter staged the accident scene exposing flaws.

Two days before Gregory's death, DeLuney emailed her mother claiming that a cryptocurrency investment she made on her behalf had generated profits of over $160,000. She asked her mother to pay $18,000 as a withdrawal fee and tax liability, and requested her mother to cover half of the costs. A cryptocurrency expert in court confirmed that these so-called fees were 'completely fictitious' and a typical fraudulent scheme.

Nevertheless, Gregory deposited $6,000 cash into DeLuney's account on January 23 and withdrew $9,000 from her retirement fund. However, DeLuney did not use this money for cryptocurrency investments but instead used it to pay off credit card debt and purchase lottery tickets, with only $1,200 actually invested in cryptocurrency.

Prosecutors allege that DeLuney attempted to stage an accidental fall after killing her mother at home. However, police investigations found multiple contradictions in DeLuney's statements. Forensic experts examined the scene and found that Gregory's fatal injuries included multiple blunt force trauma to the head, inconsistent with injuries from falling from the attic. Police discovered bloodstains on the walls and floors of Gregory's home, and clumps of hair in the hallway and bedroom, evidence that was inconsistent with a simple accidental fall.

Currently, DeLuney is awaiting trial at home under electronic monitoring bail. She maintains her innocence, while her defense team accuses the police of overly narrow focus during the investigation.

This content was generated by compiling information from various sources by the Crypto Agent, reviewed and edited by Crypto City. It is still in the training phase and may contain logical biases or information errors. The content is for reference only and should not be considered investment advice.

'Suspected cash stolen in cryptocurrency speculation? New Zealand woman murders mother, tragedy stems from an investment loss.' This article was first published in 'Crypto City.'