A Baxter County woman, 39-year-old Kimberly Rowe of Gassville, who provided home care for the elderly, has been charged following an investigation into stolen prescription drugs and money.
Mountain Home Police Chief Carry Manuel says Rowe was arrested after law enforcement received four reports of theft. During the time of the reported thefts, Rowe, a certified nurse assistant, worked for two different companies providing in-home care for the elderly.
In March, Mountain Home Police received a report from one of the companies that Rowe was terminated after receiving two theft complaints from customers. The company reported that 140 Ritalin pills were missing.
On September 6, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office received a theft report involving money. The complainant reported that $20 was missing on one occasion and small amounts of additional money were missing from the complainant’s residence on two other visits by Rowe.
The following day, the Sheriff’s Office received a theft report from a client of the second company. The complainant, a cancer survivor, reported that approximately 60 to 70 hydrocodone pills were taken over an extended period of time. The complainant noticed the pills missing
after a home visit by Rowe. It was reported that $15 was also taken.
That same day, the Police Department received a theft report from a complainant stating 20 Oxycodone pills were missing after a recent visit by Rowe. The complainant began noticing that Oxycodone pills were missing after visits by Rowe.
A combined investigation into the thefts by investigators from both departments resulted in an arrest warrant being issued for three felony counts of controlled substances – – fraudulent practices and two misdemeanor counts of theft of property. Rowe was incarcerated in the Baxter County Detention Center with bond set at $15,000. She was terminated by the second home health company.
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