Two Bellevue women were arrested Dec. 9 in connection with a marriage scam and plot to steal money from an elderly Issaquah man with dementia after they took him from the adult family home he lives in.

Sujinda Yahatta, 56, and Kulany Roeksbutr, 29, were charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree theft. In addition, Yahatta was charged with obtaining a signature by deception or duress.

According to police statements, Yahatta, massage therapist for the 78-year-old man, took him from the home Nov. 19 for about two hours, claiming they were going to lunch. Instead, she took him to apply for a marriage license.

Yahatta returned to the home Nov. 22 with Roeksbutr, again saying they were taking the man to lunch.

The caregiver at the time said she felt uncomfortable allowing the man to leave with the women, according to the police report, and while she was checking the situation with her manager, they took him from the home and left.

They took the man to Bellevue District Court where he was married to Yahatta.

The man, who is suffering from dementia and the effects of a September 2008 stroke, said he does not remember being married or signing the marriage certificate.

After the wedding, Yahatta and Roeksbutr took the man to a Bank of America in Bellevue where Roeksbutr told a teller they wanted to close his accounts, and asked to have the balance in a cashier’s check.

The teller reported Roeksbutr seemed “unsually friendly,” and went from “cheery to very nervous and eager to leave” after she told them she needed to get a manager.

Bank employees called the man’s power of attorney and asked to freeze his accounts. He agreed.

The women tried to leave after employees refused the check and the man became confused.

Friends of the victim were called to pick him up from the bank. When they arrived, he said he didn’t know the two women, or why he was there, according to court papers.

After their arrest, Roeksbutr claimed Yahatta married the man to keep his money out of reach of others who were stealing from him, according to court papers.

The marriage is in the process of being annulled.

The women were charged Dec. 16 and released on bail. Prosecutors have asked that bail amount be increased to $100,000 each.

An arraignment has been set for Dec. 30.