Under the supervision of Rabinowitz's daughter, however, the inheritance lasted only 207 days.
Stacy Taylor, 36, of 1007 Annapolis Road in Gambrills, pleaded guilty Feb. 26 to one count of perpetrating a felony theft scheme - admitting she spent a large chunk of the money on luxury car rentals as well as clothing and accessories for herself.
"The grandmother tried to give her grandchildren a better life and her daughter stole it," said Clifton O'Connor, a court-appointed guardian for the finances of three of the children - the three who are still minors and in Taylor's custody. "I wonder what the grandmother would say. She is probably rolling over in her grave."
Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced March 26, but agreed to pay $70,000 in restitution to her four children. But prosecutors and defense attorneys said in court they don't expect Taylor to pay off her entire debt.
State sentencing guidelines recommend Taylor - a recovering drug addict who was convicted in 2007 of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - serve between 18 months and five years in prison.
Assistant State's Attorney Michael Cogan declined to comment about the case prior to sentencing.
However, Peter O'Neill, Taylor's defense attorney, stood up for his client.
"She is a good mother as far as I can tell," he said this week, arguing that part of the money went to pay taxes on the inheritance. "Her record-keeping was just not up to snuff."
O'Neill said Taylor delivers newspapers for The Washington Post and that the job doesn't necessarily cover all the bills associated with raising three children.
Her oldest son is no longer living with her, he said.
Rabinowitz, a 25-year veteran of the county Fire Department who retired in 2002 as an acting-lieutenant, died in 2005. A $100,000 life insurance policy designated her grandchildren as beneficiaries, O'Connor said.
According to prosecutors and court records, Taylor deposited $23,000 into separate bank accounts for each child and $8,000 into her own account.
But between Oct. 13, 2005, and May 12, 2006, Taylor emptied the various accounts. Cogan said she spent $9,000 on luxury car rentals and $4,000 at stores marketed toward adult women. He said Taylor withdrew a total of $27,000 in cash from the accounts in less than seven months.
Taylor was sentenced to five years in prison for her 2007 drug conviction, but Circuit Court Judge Ronald A. Silkworth suspended the sentence.
But Taylor continued to use drugs and was eventually convicted of violating the conditions of her probation. After a few months in jail, she was placed back on probation.
Taylor told a judge last year she hadn't used any illegal drugs since February 2008.
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my mom - 2010-04-14 11:41:00
I am Stacy's son and i heard these comments and I have to tell you don't know the whole story.First off Stacy used her tax money for the lawyer. Second more than half the money 100'000 went to Carols debt including paying off the house, then paying for the 20,000 funeral. I really do not apprieate everyone sayin g what they did about my mom she has made mistakes but hey we all have been there. So there went 70,000 toward the funeral and the house which we still live in. so the money was used for us. Yes there was a small amount for luxery cars but that might have been for about two weeks or so. My mom has agreed to pay that. She is not a drug addict. Only reason she chose to do drugs is she encounterd two deaths two days apart and got kicked out of a house by her ex husband things were bad for her she made a mistake. She is trying now to correct the mistakes she made and fix the house her mom had and raise her kids. But the money went to the lawyer for the stupid case which the insurance money was granted to her by the insurance company couple months later they said they made a mistake. She could not touch the money after everything was already paid the house etc.. So thats the story she practically gave us the kids the money because we have a place to live
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Cory Giddings - gambrills, - Karma: Neutral
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Inheritance - 2010-03-15 02:35:10
I knew Carol, Stacy's mother and the many problems that Stacy had caused her. I saw many of them first hand. She definitely has problems and they need to be taken care of. Brett was right in saying that Carol dearly loved her grandchildren and always did whatever she could for them. Stacy has never appreciated any thing her mother did for her and is a user. I hope she gets what's coming to her.
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Debbie Rodey - Glen Burnie, MD - Karma: Neutral
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inheranitance - 2010-03-08 14:52:22
This is why responcible people waver. Mrs Robinowitz did not leave a will stipulating the dispersal of funds. As executive to acc. info. she had free rein.
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michael miller - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Trust - 2010-03-08 14:30:14
It shows the importance of setting up a proper trust when leaving an inheritance for children.
Most of her record keeping is "not up to snuff," but apparently she did manage to keep really detailed records of the $4,000 she spent at the XXX shop.
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A K - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Carol - 2010-03-08 09:18:51
What truly a sweetheart of a woman and a great instructor. The stories she could tell about being in the field, were priceless.
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Rick M - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent
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MONEY - 2010-03-08 06:14:22
SHE IS A THIEF....................but the judges will give her a slap on the wrist!
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jim pearson - seaford, de - Karma: Terrible
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Why does Taylor have custody? - 2010-03-07 22:39:46
Based on Taylor's record, why haven't her children been taken from her?
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Erin Wilson - Cape Coral, FL - Karma: Neutral
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What a shame.... - 2010-03-07 19:05:34
Carol was a sweetheart of a woman....she was one of my instructors in the Fire Academy, and continued to teach firefighters for nearly 20 years after that. She dearly loved her grandchildren, and it is truly sad to see that her own daughter would misappropriate her generous gifts to them.
May she rest in peace, always; and may the daughter live long to regret her despicable actions.
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Brett Howe - Millersville, MD - Karma: Neutral
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What did she use? - 2010-03-07 12:20:16
What did she use to pay the attorney fees? Mr. O'Neil is not cheap! Guess her kids paid for that as well.
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John Olson - gambrills, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Shame - 2010-03-07 00:59:14
Typical lawyer, "her record keeping wasnt up to snuff". What a joke. She blew the money on drugs. Stores marketed toward adult women, now thats a new one. Her mother knew she wasnt reliable thats why she left the money to the grandkids hoping it would be safe.
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Anthony Forrest - crownsville, MD - Karma: Excellent
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