Cook County State's Attorney's Office:
Press Releases

Richard A. Devine
Cook County State's Attorney
500 Richard J. Daley Center
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-3423
www.statesattorney.org

A Chicago man appeared in court today on charges that he scammed elderly victims by telling them that their cars needed to be repaired, took their money and ran in a string of incidents on the South Side.

Zelma Wortheam, 50, of 6344 S. Stewart, Ave. appeared before Judge Diane Gordon Cannon today and pleaded not guilty to theft, residential burglary and possession of stolen motor vehicle charges stemming from five separate incidents where he targeted senior citizens at local stores.

On April 26, the defendant went to the home of an 84-year-old woman, and told her oil was leaking from her car and offered to fix it. The defendant drove away in her car and told her he
would return it later that day. The defendant called the victim a few days later, but failed to return her car. The car was recovered from the defendant upon his arrest on July 17. The license plate on the car had been replaced.

On June 14, the defendant approached a 78-year-old woman at the Walgreen's parking lot 7525 S. State St., and offered to fix her car for $78. Wortheam drove the victim home to get money and then to a gas station where she bought oil. The defendant then grabbed the money and oil, told the victim that her car was fixed and drove off.

On July 15, a 77-year-old woman was inside Target at 8560 S. Cottage Grove Ave., when Wortheam approached her. He told her that her car was leaking oil and drove her to Auto Zone and bought $88 worth of supplies. The defendant then took the victim back to Target and then drove off with the supplies and receipt from Auto Zone.

Also on July 15, Wortheam approached an 81-year-old woman at the Walgreen's at 7528 S. Prairie Ave. The defendant told the victim her car may catch fire and that the parts needed to fix it would cost $90. The defendant followed the victim home, grabbed $100 from her hand and fled.

On July 17, Wortheam approached an 82-year-old victim at the Walgreen's at 11 E. 76th St., Chicago. The defendant took $110 from the victim to fix her car. A Walgreen's security guard called police, confronted the defendant and took back the victim's money.

Wortheam is on parole for an Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking conviction. The State's
Attorney's Office is working with the Chicago Police Department in a continuing investigation.
Wortheam is in custody at the Cook County Jail and his next court date is October 3, before Judge Cannon
at 26th and California.

- Back -