Saugus Nurse Took More Than Care: Prosecutors

LINCOLN, MA — A Saugus woman was arraigned Thursday on charges that she stolen prescription medication from a 70-year-old man she was caring for. Rebecca Bowman, 37, was charged with larceny of a drug, caretaker abuse, and possession of a Class B substance, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Prosecutors said Bowman started working for the victim in Dec. 2016 as a visiting nurse in his Lincoln home. She came three times a week to treat him in his bedroom.

In April the following year, the victim had noticed oxycodone pills prescribed to him for pain management were disappearing, at times putting him in "extreme pain," prosecutors said. The victim then on two occasions counted his pills before and after Bowman came, finding alleged discrepancies after she left.

The victim told police, which set up a surveillance camera and counted the pills before and after Bowman came. Police found that 14 pills were missing, and video showed Bowman stealing pills when the victim left the room, prosecutors said.

Bowman was released on personal recognizance and ordered not to work with the elderly and to stay away from, and have no contact with, the victim.

The case is scheduled to continue Sept. 20.

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