Missouri Jury Convicts Contractor Who Took $42,000 From Elderly Couple for a Home Addition He Never Built

Published Oct. 8, 2026. Case statuses are current as of that date.

An elderly Missouri couple paid a contractor for an addition to their home. Over six months, prosecutors say, he kept promising to finish it while spending their money on himself. A jury has now found him guilty.

On Sept. 29, 2026, a Jackson County jury convicted Daniel Eschliman, 45, of financial exploitation of an elderly person, stealing by deceit, and deceptive business practices, and recommended a 10-year prison sentence, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced on Oct. 2 [1][2].

"Financial exploitation devastates families and trust in our communities. When people invest their savings into improving their homes, they deserve honesty, not deception," Hanaway said [1].

Eschliman has been convicted by a jury but not yet sentenced. A conviction can be challenged through post-trial motions and appeal.

How the scheme worked

According to the attorney general's office [1]:

• The project. Eschliman took money from an elderly couple to build an addition to their home.
• Repeated promises. Over six months, he "repeatedly promised the victims he would complete a home addition, all while spending the money on himself."
• The loss. The couple lost more than $42,000.
• The complaint. The couple filed a complaint with the attorney general's Consumer Protection Section, which investigated. Assistant Attorneys General Joe Bliss and Jared Johnstone prosecuted the case.

In May 2025, KCTV5 reported that a Warrensburg man named Daniel Eschliman had been charged in Jackson County by the state's Consumer Protection Division with financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person, stealing $25,000 or more, and deceptive business practice. Citing court documents, the station said he was accused of making false promises about construction and concrete installation services to be performed by Eschliman Construction, LLC, valued at at least $42,740, between April 8 and Oct. 17, 2022 [3]. The charges and dollar amount closely match the case that went to trial, but the attorney general's release does not give a case number, so we could not confirm that the 2025 report describes the same case rather than the "one other" case the office mentions.

The person convicted

Daniel Eschliman, 45, was found guilty on Sept. 29, 2026, of [1][2]:

• Financial exploitation of an elderly person
• Stealing by deceit
• Deceptive business practices

The jury recommended a 10-year prison sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 8, 2026, in Jackson County. KCTV5 reported he faces up to 10 years in prison [2]. The judge decides the final sentence.

The attorney general's office said Eschliman "was criminally charged in one other contractor fraud case and has been sued civilly numerous times" [1]. The office did not identify the other case or its status, so we cannot report its outcome, and he is presumed innocent in any case that has not been decided.

Red flags when hiring a contractor

• A large payment up front for a big project like an addition, before materials arrive or work starts.
• Months of excuses while little or no visible progress is made.
• Requests for more money before earlier phases are done.
• A contractor who's hard to verify. Search the person's name and company in your state's court records; repeated civil suits from customers are a warning sign.
• Targeting older homeowners, who may be home during the day and less likely to challenge delays.

What to do

1. Check the contractor first. Search state court records (Missouri's is Case.net) for the individual's name and company name, and check complaints with the attorney general and the Better Business Bureau.
2. Pay in stages tied to completed work, and keep the final payment until the job passes inspection.
3. Get a written contract with a start date, finish date, payment schedule and cancellation terms.
4. Use a check or credit card, not cash, and keep all receipts and messages.
5. Report it. Missouri residents can contact the attorney general's Consumer Protection Section at 800-392-8222 or file a complaint at ago.mo.gov [1][4]. Elsewhere, contact your state attorney general and local police.
6. Help an older relative. Offer to review contracts and payments for big home projects; Hanaway credited "the victims who reported this fraud" for the verdict [1].

Case status (as of Oct. 8, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 8, 2026	Source
Daniel Eschliman, 45	Jackson County, Mo. Circuit Court (state)	Convicted by jury Sept. 29, 2026 (financial exploitation of an elderly person, stealing by deceit, deceptive business practices); jury recommended 10 years; sentencing Dec. 8, 2026	[1], [2], [3], [4]
Eschliman Construction, LLC	—	Named in 2025 charging coverage as the company that was to perform the work (link to this verdict unconfirmed); not reported as a defendant	[3]

Statuses can change, including through post-trial motions or appeal.

Sources

1. Missouri Attorney General's Office, "Attorney General Hanaway Halts Contractor Fraud Against Elderly," news release, Oct. 2, 2026 (as distributed by EIN Presswire). https://www.einpresswire.com/article/946986354/attorney-general-hanaway-halts-contractor-fraud-against-elderly
2. Natalie Dattilio, "Man posing as contractor convicted of defrauding elderly Jackson County couple," KCTV5, Oct. 2, 2026. https://www.kctv5.com/2026/10/02/man-posing-contractor-convicted-defrauding-elderly-jackson-county-couple/
3. Gabe Swartz, "Warrensburg man alleged to have exploited elderly person with deceptive business practices," KCTV5, May 6, 2025. https://www.kctv5.com/2025/05/06/warrensburg-man-alleged-have-exploited-elderly-person-with-deceptive-business-practices/
4. "Jackson County jury convicts Eschliman in elderly contractor scam," KTTN News, Oct. 5, 2026. https://www.kttn.com/jackson-county-jury-convicts-eschliman-in-elderly-contractor-scam/

---

Corrections and updates: If you are named in this article, or represent someone who is, and believe anything here is inaccurate or out of date (including a dismissal, acquittal, or change in case status), please contact us at editorandchief@scammers.com. We will review it and update the article promptly.