Nurse who stole morphine from dying patient sentenced to 4 years in prison.
Nurse who stole morphine from dying patient sentenced to 4 years in prison.
Nurse who stole morphine from dying patient sentenced to 4 years in prison.
The Clifton Police Department announced that 43-year-old Ashley Kay Bidwell from Whitney, Texas was sentenced to four years in prison after stealing morphine from a hospice patient back in April 2022.
According to the department, Bidwill plead guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison for the injury to the elderly charge as well as two years of probation for a drug diversion charge.
The Whitney and Clifton Police Departments in Texas made the arrest in an ongoing multi-agency drug diversion case from a local medical facility.
Bidwell was arrested in April 2022 on charges out of Clifton for Injury to the Elderly – as well as diversion of a controlled substance.
Clifton Police tell FOX 44 News they were contacted by Clifton Lutheran Sunset Ministries (CLSM) in reference to an employee who possibly stole drugs from a patient in the facility. As soon as they were made aware, they contacted police.
Clifton PD, along with Whitney PD, were able to conduct a thorough investigation and quickly arrested Bidwell.
Birdwell used her position with CLSM to take medication away from an elderly patient when he was in dire need of it, for her own addiction.
Police say CLSM took very swift action and was 100 percent cooperative with the investigation. Birdwell was then fired by CLSM. She has been transferred to the Bosque County Jail, where her bond is now set at $150,000.
Clifton PD says this was an isolated incident, and no other residents were in any harm or in danger.
This is an ongoing investigation with cooperation with the cooperation of the medical facility, the Texas State Nursing Board, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Where the Diversion Occurred:
Clifton Lutheran Sunset Ministries (CLSM)
413 Sunset St, Clifton, TX 76634, USA
Type of Healthcare Facility:
Hospital
Person Diverting:
Ashley Kay Bidwell
Profession of the person diverting:
Nurse
Has the incident been reported?
e.g. to local law enforcement, county board of health, state licensure board, and/or federal DEA or FDA authorities?
Yes
To whom has the incident been reported?
Local Law Enforcement
