Monday, April 11, 2011

MN Nursing Home Worker Charged With Theft

Over two years, a nursing home worker pocketed nearly $63,000 from two elderly residents at a South St. Paul senior home to help pay for her daughter's college tuition, authorities said.

Lisa Marie Blair, 43, faces four felony counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult and three felony counts of aggravated theft by swindle, according to charges filed Tuesday in Dakota County District Court. Blair, who turned herself in to police over the weekend, has posted bail.

"It's always disturbing to see situations where vulnerable victims are taken advantage of," Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said. "That appears to be the case here."

The alleged thefts happened in 2009 and 2010.

When questioned by police, Blair said she had "borrowed" money from the female resident to pay for her daughter's college tuition but that she planned to pay the money back.

Blair told police she would write checks payable to herself, or for cash, from the woman's account while helping her pay bills, the charges said.

Blair told police, "I maybe took advantage ... I knew it was the wrong thing to do," the complaint said. Blair said she planned to pay the money back, but "it just got out of hand."

Each of the counts against Blair carries up to 10 years in prison.

Full Article and Source:
South St. Paul Nursing Home Worker Charged With Stealing From Two Residents

4 comments:

Thelma said...

The states are failing their citizens.

StandUp said...

These stories about nursing home worker theives are growing. There just has to be more oversight of nursing homes. And the thieves should suffer stricter punishment since they victimized vulnerable people.

Norma said...

Another nursing home thief. Very scary!

Anonymous said...

My Grandma had her diamond rings stolen her first week in a nursing home. They took them by force - her hands and wrists were all black and blue.

Nothing was done about it.