NZ Woman Accused of Killing Mother After Crypto Investment Loss

Key Takeaways

• Julia DeLuney, 53, charged with killing her mother Helen Gregory, 79
• Motive: Theft of NZ$51,000 for cryptocurrency investment
• DeLuney spent NZ$93,000 on crypto over 13 months and lost NZ$41,000
• Victim distrusted banks and regularly hid cash around her home
• Case uncovered through contradictions in defendant’s statements

Julia DeLuney, a New Zealand citizen, is facing charges of killing her mother Helen Gregory, 79, after being discovered stealing a large sum of money that her mother had hidden in the house to invest in cryptocurrency.

The Cash Theft

Julia DeLuney, a New Zealand citizen, has been charged with the murder of her 79-year-old mother, Helen Gregory, after allegedly stealing a large sum of cash that Gregory had hidden in her home. Known for her distrust of banks, Gregory often stashed plastic-wrapped bundles of cash around the house.

The incident began when Gregory was hospitalized after a fall in September 2023. During her stay, DeLuney and her husband reportedly lived in Gregory’s house. Upon her return, Gregory found her home in disarray and discovered that a significant amount of money was missing.

Cheryl Thomson, a close friend, testified that NZ$51,000 (approx. US$30,000) had vanished. Gregory had confided that only Julia knew about the hidden funds.

The Failed Cryptocurrency Investment

During police questioning, DeLuney, currently out on bail under electronic monitoring, has admitted to investing the stolen money in cryptocurrency. The amount invested was approximately NZ$45,000.

Financial analyst Eric Huang presented damning evidence to the court. Records showed that DeLuney had spent NZ$93,000 on crypto between January 1, 2023, and January 25, 2024—far more than her income during that period.

Notably, she received over NZ$55,000 from friends and family, primarily from her parents. By early 2024, she had lost nearly NZ$41,000 on crypto investments.

The Fraudulent Scheme

Gregory was found dead at her home in January 2024, just two days after receiving an email from her daughter announcing that the cryptocurrency investment had yielded significant profits, equivalent to over NZ$160,000.

DeLuney told her mother that she needed more than NZ$18,000 to pay withdrawal fees and tax obligations when withdrawing profits, and requested her mother to pay half of these costs. However, experts consulted by the court confirmed these fees were fictitious and such lies are a common part of scam operations.

Gregory’s friend, Elizabeth Askin, said DeLuney had promised to return the investment money to her mother in November 2024, then changed it to April 2024.

The Murder

Prosecutors allege that DeLuney killed her mother at home before returning with her husband and staging the scene to look like an accident. She claimed Gregory had fallen from the attic and was left with minor injuries, but that she returned later to find the house “looking like a battlefield.”

However, forensic reconstruction indicated that Gregory was attacked before the fall was staged. Multiple inconsistencies in DeLuney’s statements raised suspicion, prompting authorities to treat the death as a homicide.

Detective Sergeant Giulia Boffa testified that DeLuney changed outfits several times on the night of the incident and failed to mention key areas of the home during her initial report. Police later discovered blood on walls and floors, and strands of hair in the hallway and bedroom—evidence inconsistent with a simple fall from the attic.

This case has shocked New Zealand public opinion, reflecting the potential dangers of cryptocurrency investment without adequate knowledge and the tragic consequences when greed overcomes family bonds.