CNA accused of stealing $60K from nursing home patient

JEFFERSONVILLE, IN (WAVE) – A nursing assistant is charged with taking more than $60,000 from a man in her care at a nursing home and police say she used her daughter to cash the checks. and now they are both charged with theft.

Investigators say Margaret Densford, 46, took advantage of a 70-year-old veteran at Kindred Transitional Care and Rehab in Clarksville.

“The victim in the case did ask another employee of the nursing home what should be done if someone owed him money and wouldn't pay him back,” said Clark County Deputy Prosecutor Jeremy Mull.

Mull says that is the question that came from the nursing home resident back in March that cracked this case wide open. Mull says the victim is of the right state of mind. He's in a wheelchair and is suffering from kidney failure. Mull says while he does not have any children, he does have a nephew who visits regularly.

“In his mind he thought it was $10,000 or $11,000,” said Mull.

According to the probable cause affidavit for arrest, Densford cared for the victim for four years. Investigators say in 2012, Densford started writing personal checks made payable to her daughter Jessica Densford, 25, out of the victim's account. Police say Jessica would cash the checks and then turn the money over to her mother.

Mull says the victim believed that she would pay him back. Investigators report in the end the checks totaled $60,125.00.

“Even people with total competence sometimes have very soft hearts and are very vulnerable to people taking advantage of them,” said Susan Smith, Executive Director of GuardiaCare.

Smith says this case proves long before you or a loved one enters a facility, a power of attorney agreement should be made.

“If there is a need for a power of attorney and someone would like to have a capable and professional third party, that's where GuardiaCare steps in,” said Smith.

Kindred released this statement:

As soon as this issue was brought to our attention in March, we took immediate action and notified the state. The employee who was allegedly involved in this situation no longer works here. We have and will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities investigating this matter.

Margaret and Jessica Densford are charged with theft. A warrant has been issued for their arrest. At this time they have not been booked.

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WAVE 3 News.