If you had read the article, you would know the funds were left for the nieces for college. The parents were, in effect, holding it “in trust”.
It was not their money to spend however they wished.
“In trust” is different than “in a trust”.
If the Aunt intended for the funds to be exclusively used for her education, she could have set it up that way. Sounds like she just left the money to the parents to pay for school. The Aunt is the villain here, possibly unknowingly, but still failed.