Unlicensed nurse accused of theft, fraud at veterans home

A 45-year-old Temple Hills woman charged with stealing drugs from the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in March is facing additional counts of misrepresentation and practicing registered nursing by fraudulent representation, according to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.

The defendant is identified in a sheriff’s office release and court records as Stephanie Marie Murphy.

Documents filed by Detective Andrew Burgess of the St. Mary’s sheriff’s office stated that in August an internal investigation was launched at the veterans home regarding the theft of drugs by an on-duty nurse on the evening of March 17.

Burgess stated that the home’s staff “reviewed security footage, which captured the defendant conducting a beginning shift report at approximately 2322 hours with three blister packs of medication in hand and only two blister packs of medication in hand at the end of shift report on March 18 at approximately 0719 hours.”

The estimated value of the missing drugs was $21, court records show.

“The defendant’s nursing license is suspended due to previous allegations of misuse and theft of narcotics,” Burgess stated in court papers.

In addition to the St. Mary’s sheriff’s office, the agencies involved in the investigation of Murphy’s alleged illegal activities were Maryland State Police, Prince George’s County Police Department, the Southern Maryland Intelligence Center and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

“As the investigation continued, it was determined that Murphy had misrepresented her identity while using an online platform designed to assist with staffing at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home,” the St. Mary’s sheriff’s office release stated. “On Sept. 9, a circuit court arrest warrant was issued, charging the suspect with 25 counts of misrepresentation–registered nurse and 27 counts of practicing registered nursing by fraudulent representation.”

The sheriff’s office reported Murphy is pretrial release.

According to court records, Murphy’s initial appearance in circuit court is scheduled for Nov. 26 before Judge Joseph M. Stanalonis.

The investigation remains open. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Burgess at 301-475-4200, ext. 8041, or by email Andrew.Burgess@stmaryscountymd.gov