Father’s will reveals Ann Marie Smith’s $1.3m inheritance
Neglect victim Ann Marie Smith – whose horrific death triggered a major investigation – was left a huge inheritance by her father. Now detectives want to know what became of it.
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Neglect victim Ann Marie Smith was bequeathed an estimated inheritance of up to $1.3 million by her late father, the Sunday Mail can reveal.
The last will and testament of Mr Smith, who died in 2009, directed his only daughter receive a car, $25,000 cash, the Kensington Park home where she lived until her death and half his remaining estate.
The death of Ms Smith, 54, in“disgusting and degrading” circumstances is the subject of a homicide investigation, which is also probing her financial affairs.
Police have previously revealed a large cash inheritance was steadily drained from her bank account, while the proceeds of two loans worth more than $70,000 had vanished.
Custom-made solid gold jewellery worth more than $35,000 was also missing.
Mr Smith’s will, obtained by the Sunday Mail, was administered in June 2010 – eight months after his death at the age of 64. His wife – Ann Smith’s mother – died just three months earlier.
Mr Smith’s last will and testament directed his daughter inherit:
THE THREE-BEDROOM Kensington Park home on Bradman Court where she lived and was confined to a woven cane chair in squalid conditions during the final year of her life.
A TOYOTA Starlet car and all its accessories.
A CASH amount of $25,000.
Mr Smith’s will further directs that his daughter, who had cerebral palsy, will share with her estranged brother the remaining proceeds of his estate, which includes the family home.
The Kensington Park home of Ms Smith is valued at $860,000 and the family home, in the Burnside Council area, sold two years after her father’s death for $880,000.
A police spokeswoman told the Sunday Mail detectives were “conducting a lengthy and extensive investigation into Ann Smith’s financial affairs, including all her assets and finances and what happened to them”.
The police investigation is examining the criminal liability of those who had a responsibility to deliver appropriate care to Ms Smith before her death on April 6.
She had been admitted to hospital with severe septic shock and organ failure.
Her carer for the past seven years, Rosemary Maione, 69, was employed by provider Integrity Care (SA) Ltd until she was sacked on May 18, just days after the police investigation was revealed.
It later emerged Ms Maione was not a registered carer at the time of Ms Smith’s death.
As well as the manslaughter investigation, the case has resulted in a state-level task-force on disability care and an inquiry into the failings of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Recently retired Federal Court judge Alan Robertson on Friday called for public submissions for the independent review he was conducting to “essentially to make sure that nothing like the circumstances of Ms Smith’s death occurs again and specifically to identify how the NDIS Commission carried out its functions and whether there were any failings on its part, particularly in relation to Integrity Care (SA) Ltd”.
Mr Robertson said he would conduct interviews and hear submissions on July 20 and 21 in Adelaide, travel restrictions permitting.
His report to the Commissioner and his recommendations are due by the end of August 2020.
Anyone wanting to provide information or make a submission to Mr Robertson can email Alan.robertson@ndiscommission.gov.au or for help making a submission call 1800 035 544.
Police have so far received 66 calls to Crime Stoppers and urge anyone with information that may help the investigation to contact 1800 333 000.