A woman trusted to take care of the elderly, in turn steals from one her patients.
A Lake Wales certified nursing assistant is accused of taking advantage of the helpless.
ABC Action News discovered the report, after the Florida Department of Health published an Emergency Order to restrict and suspend 24 Florida medical professionals.
Patricia Anne Gray, previously a CNA with Grace Health, a nursing home in Lake Wales was also on that list.
“He’s a very nice guy, he always likes to say hi to people in the morning,” Simon Salvant, the victim’s driver, told ABC Action News.
So when Salvant heard his client had become the victim of a crime, and the perpetrator was a medical professional, he was not happy.
“They are vulnerable, why would you do something like that?” Salvant asked.
Gray is accused of stealing Dick Herridge’s credit card.
Lake Wales Police found video of Gray shopping with the card at Walmart, Publix and the Dollar General.
ABC Action News was able to reach family members who care for their uncle out of state.
“When you first saw these charges, did you think that it could be a nursing assistant?" Andrea Lyon, asked the Herridge family.
“No I didn’t know if he had lost it when he was out the day before,” Vicki Herridge, the victim’s niece said. She keeps track of her uncle's spending habits and cares for him all the way from South Carolina.
Soon Lake Wales PD zeroed in on Gray, after the card was discovered back where it belonged.
“Uncle Dick‘s credit card was magically found the next day,” Vicki Herridge said.
Since then, Gray has been arrested.
And in the new emergency order issued by the state, the Florida Department of Health restricts Gray’s ability to practice nursing in any situation where she would have access to patient’s financial information.
A full list of professionals suspended or restricted can be found here.
