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Turns out, not all crypto bagholders just quietly suffer through the bear market, some take things way, way too far.
A murder trial unfolding in Wellington, New Zealand, has taken a dark turn involving missing cash, crypto trades, and a daughter accused of killing her own mother.
Crypto, cash, and a crime scene
Meet Julia DeLuney, a 53-year-old former teacher, accused of siphoning money from her elderly mother and later allegedly staging the woman’s death to appear accidental, all while channeling funds into cryptocurrency trades.
According to testimony presented, prosecutors claim DeLuney used tens of thousands of New Zealand dollars belonging to her 79-year-old mother, Helen Gregory, to invest in cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.
Forensic accountant Eric Huang testified that over the course of a year, from January 2023 to January 2024, DeLuney moved approximately NZD 156,555 ($93,840) from her accounts to various crypto platforms.
Of that, only NZD 88,173 ($52,851) was returned, leaving a shortfall of nearly NZD 68,382 ($40,989).
Gregory’s friends told the court she had previously voiced concerns about missing cash. Cheryl Thomson, one of Gregory’s longtime friends, testified that the victim suspected her daughter had taken hidden funds, allegedly to buy crypto.
Thomson recalled Gregory saying, “It’s all safe, Mum. Don’t worry,” after confronting DeLuney.
Huang’s report also noted DeLuney appeared to rely heavily on crypto withdrawals and unexplained cash deposits to maintain her lifestyle, which reportedly couldn’t be sustained on her known income alone.
Defense rejects claims of foul play
The alleged incident occurred on January 24, 2024, at Gregory’s home in Khandallah, a suburb near Wellington.
While prosecutors believe the death was staged as a fall, the defense maintains that DeLuney left the house for around 90 minutes to seek help after finding her mother injured.
Her legal team has pushed back against the prosecution’s narrative, suggesting investigators focused too narrowly on DeLuney from the start.
The trial, which has drawn national attention due to its unusual crypto-related angle, is still ongoing. Testimonies from financial experts, family acquaintances, and digital forensics are expected to continue as both sides build their cases.
