LONG BEACH -- A woman sought by police since 2008 for elder abuse for stealing more than $4 million from a 74-year-old Long Beach stroke victim turned herself into authorities Tuesday morning.
Li Ching Liu appeared with her attorney, Joseph Camarata, in Long Beach Superior Court Judge Arthur Jean's courtroom early Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge that she abused and robbed the elderly victim who hired Liu to help her following a massive stroke in 2002.
The judge set Liu's bail at $2.5 million and ordered she be returned to court Aug. 24 for a preliminary hearing setting and pre-plea conference.
Long Beach Police Department Forgery and Fraud Detective Stacey Holdredge has been searching for Liu since 2008, when police served warrants at several Southland locations and arrested Liu's adult son and her boyfriend, both of whom were convicted in the case in 2009.
A felony arrest warrant was also issued for Liu at that time but she vanished and remained at large until Tuesday.
The detective was so incensed by the case -- which included Liu withholding food from the victim to make her comply -- that Holdredge spoke with the Press-Telegram last week to ask the public to help in finding the suspect.
Deputy District Attorney Belle Chen, who is assigned to the Elder Abuse Unit in Downtown Los Angeles, said the media coverage may have been what led to Liu's voluntary surrender.
"I read the story in the Press-Telegram on Sunday, I think it really helped," Chen said after court.
Li Ching Liu appeared with her attorney, Joseph Camarata, in Long Beach Superior Court Judge Arthur Jean's courtroom early Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge that she abused and robbed the elderly victim who hired Liu to help her following a massive stroke in 2002.
The judge set Liu's bail at $2.5 million and ordered she be returned to court Aug. 24 for a preliminary hearing setting and pre-plea conference.
Long Beach Police Department Forgery and Fraud Detective Stacey Holdredge has been searching for Liu since 2008, when police served warrants at several Southland locations and arrested Liu's adult son and her boyfriend, both of whom were convicted in the case in 2009.
A felony arrest warrant was also issued for Liu at that time but she vanished and remained at large until Tuesday.
The detective was so incensed by the case -- which included Liu withholding food from the victim to make her comply -- that Holdredge spoke with the Press-Telegram last week to ask the public to help in finding the suspect.
Deputy District Attorney Belle Chen, who is assigned to the Elder Abuse Unit in Downtown Los Angeles, said the media coverage may have been what led to Liu's voluntary surrender.
"I read the story in the Press-Telegram on Sunday, I think it really helped," Chen said after court.
Why even have a trial. Put her away for life.