This post was originally published on this site

A Council Bluffs woman — who formerly worked at Bethany Lutheran Home — is accused of stealing more than 9,000 painkillers from those in her care by filling out prescriptions in their names, according to Council Bluffs police.

Laurine Wilhite, 50, faces two counts of dependant adult abuse, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with records and second-degree theft. She was arrested July 11 and posted 10 percent of a $30,000 bond and was released from the Pottawattamie County Jail Wednesday.

According to authorities, Wilhite allegedly stole 9,727 narcotic hydrocodone pills from 44 different residents at Bethany Home.

Police estimated the worth of the pills at $6,562. Reports stated Wilhite ordered the medications for residents and then allegedly stole them when they were delivered by the pharmacy, but before they were logged in as received by the facility.

Mike Van Sickle, chief operating officer and administrator at Bethany, said Wilhite was a nurse at the facility but no longer worked there.

He declined to comment further.