Pauline Runyon, who had no living heirs, was a resident at a nursing home where Tramski befriended her. Within five months, Tramski was able to obtain large monetary gifts from Runyon for herself and her son. Following an accident where Runyon lost much of her memory, Tramski became Runyon’s guardian. Less than two months after the accident and only days before her death, Tramski had a friend provide a will to Runyon to make Tramski the sole beneficiary of her estate.
St. Clair County Probate Court Judge John D. Tomlinson agreed with the Attorney General’s Office that Runyon lacked the capacity to sign the will and that Tramski exerted excessive influence on Runyon in her role as the guardian. As a result of this ruling, a new personal representative was appointed and a prior will from 2009 that leaves some of Runyon’s estate to the Leader Dogs for the Blind and a local domestic violence shelter will be used to distribute her remaining assets and fulfill her wishes.
