Georgia Nurse Accused of Elder Abuse, Stealing Jewellery From Hospital Sufferers: Police

Stephanie Phillips-Siwiec — a 54-year-old nurse at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Middle — is charged with three counts of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the aged, three counts of theft, and aggravated battery, per Fulton County jail information.

In keeping with an affidavit from the Roswell Police Division, per native Fox affiliate WAGA and obtained by Legislation&Crime, the investigation started final week when a daughter of a 95-year-old affected person reported that her mom’s 18-karat gold chain hyperlink bracelet — which was reportedly valued at $1,000 — was stolen from her wrist after she was transferred to a room at North Fulton Hospital on September 28.

The investigation, as cited within the police report, revealed particulars from an alleged case a month prior, wherein Phillips-Siwiec allegedly took off rings from an aged affected person’s hand by utilizing hand sanitizer.

Within the report, per Legislation&Crime, Phillips-Siwiec eliminated 4 rings from the fingers of 87-year-old affected person, Patricia Gaskins, who suffers from dementia, with the alleged incident leaving the lady with a dislocated finger.

Authorities responded to a theft name after the affected person’s daughter, Carolina Ortloff, reportedly advised police that she observed her mom’s rings have been lacking. In keeping with Ortloff, her mom was carrying her rings when she was hospitalized after she fell at her retirement house, with an X-ray exhibiting the jewellery on her fingers. Nonetheless, police mentioned that the rings have been gone when she returned to the retirement facility later that day.

In keeping with the affidavit, the rings have been the affected person’s and her late husband’s wedding ceremony rings, together with a gold set with two white gold bands, with one ring having a diamond reportedly valued at $5,800.

The police report mentioned that a health care provider acknowledged the sufferer’s dislocated finger was not from her fall on the retirement house however on account of the rings being faraway from her hand.

Phillips-Siwiec additionally allegedly admitted she used hand sanitizer to forcibly take off the affected person’s rings, in keeping with the affidavit, per WAGA.

“I am unable to clarify the sensation that came visiting me from horror, nausea, eager to scream,” Ortloff recalled to the outlet. “You lose religion in humanity at that second, that this occurred in a spot the place somebody is meant to be cared for.”

Wellstar Well being System issued a press release to WAGA and native ABC affiliate WSB, saying Phillips-Siwiec had been positioned on administrative depart pending additional investigation.

“These allegations, if true, go towards every thing we stand for as caregivers. Each individual ought to really feel secure and cozy after they obtain care,” the spokesperson mentioned. “We’re cooperating with the investigating authorities and can take additional motion as applicable. We’ve got apologized to the affected person and her household.”

“We conduct thorough worker background checks and encourage our crew members and sufferers to report their considerations, which they’ll do anonymously, to assist guarantee the very best ranges of care and security,” the spokesperson added.

Phillips-Siwiec was initially charged with three counts of theft by taking, two of which have been felony expenses, and was launched on Sunday, earlier than she rebooked with the brand new expenses on Wednesday after police allegedly found two extra victims, in keeping with WSB.

In keeping with jail information, the primary alleged theft befell on August 19.

Phillips-Siwiec bail was set at $140,000. She is scheduled to look in courtroom on November 1.