Manipulation of vulnerable person via transformation of volunteer service to religious proselytism: Case report and methodical approach

Elderly people can become victims of induced behavior that is prejudicial not only to their psycho-physical health but also to the emotional-affective fragility associated with their social condition due to their age group. In such cases, it is essential to investigate the type of relationship that developed between the victim and the perpetrator. The authors report a case in which two women were volunteer caregivers of an elderly man and they were active members of a religious group too. During their relatively brief period of activity, the caregivers transformed their service firstly into religious proselytism and then into manipulation to acquire the man's economical assets. The technical assessments and judicial aspects of the case are described to define which elements must be evaluated to ascertain whether there have been phenomena of illicit manipulation and circumvention of an incapable person, as provided for by Italian law (penal code article 643).