Home health nurse accused of stealing medication from 82-year-old cancer patient – WTVC

SODDY DAISY, Tenn. — 

A home health nurse is accused of stealing prescription medication from an 82-year-old woman battling Stage IV liver cancer.

“I would have thought, of all people that come into your home, nurses that go through a home health agency would be the safest people,” says the victim’s daughter, who wishes to keep their identities hidden.

In an exclusive interview, they tell NewsChannel 9 that Stephen Deems, a nurse with National Healthcare Corporation, first visited February 9th. The patient was previously receiving treatment at a facility.

They say he asked to take inventory of the patient’s medications the same day.

Monday, February 13th, the victim says Deems asked to drop off some gauze and other small medical supplies while they were at a chemotherapy appointment.

“He started calling me and asking me if we were home, if he could come by then. It was very important, calling, texting, leaving messages,” says the victim’s daughter.

She told him to leave the supplies on the porch.

That afternoon, she received another urgent call.

“He called me and told me someone broke in. He said he would call police and wait for them.”

Soddy Daisy police responded to the home and started asking Deems questions.

When the victim and her daughter returned home, they immediately noticed her prescription painkillers were missing.

Chief Phillip Hamrick says Deems confessed to officers that he drove to a gas station to hide the drugs in a bathroom vent before he called them.

“He actually went to the Kangaroo and hid it in the ceiling, then came back and made the report,” says Hamrick.

Officers took him to jail and charged him with theft and aggravated burglary.

The victim says other pills were put in the painkiller bottles. Another nurse identified them as Tylenol capsules, which would have killed her had she ingested them.

“He is somebody you put your trust in to come to your home and take care of you and your family. In this case, they’re the ones who take the medication someone actually needs,” adds Hamrick.

The victims’ daughters are now caring for her around the clock, too afraid to put their trust in another stranger.

“You have to really stoop low to break into someone’s home who is the weakest and most vulnerable and steal their medication,” says her daughter.

Deems will go to court March 7th to face those charges.

The police report says Deems is employed by the National Healthcare Corporation. We called their headquarters in Nashville and left a message with their spokesperson. Depend on us to let you know when we hear back.