Police: Woman Stole Unconscious Patient's Credit Card, Made $4,000 In Purchases
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GREENSBURG (KDKA) – A woman is facing charges for allegedly stealing a hospital patient's credit card and racking up thousands of dollars in purchases while he was in the ICU.
According to police, 54-year-old Charlotte Jackson stole the credit card from Harry Meadows, a patient who lay unconscious in the Intensive Care Unit at Excela Westmoreland Hospital when the theft happened.
"He was unconscious," said Capt. Robert Stafford, of Greensburg Police. "He wasn't even able to communicate with anybody."
Investigators say Jackson used a ruse to gain bedside access to the man.
"She relayed to the nurse that she was the daughter of the victim," said Capt. Stafford.
Jackson then used the card to make $4,000 in purchases at 50 locations around Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
"She had gone to Walmart, she used the Lyft service numerous times, an eye doctor one time," Capt. Stafford said.
Police say they're not ruling out the possibility that Jackson took the card thinking Meadows may never recover from his illness.
On the run since April 20, Jackson was taken into custody in Rankin, where she is from. Investigators say a Facebook tip lead to her arrest.
Jackson is facing a list of charges including, burglary, criminal trespass, theft and criminal use of a communication facility.
She is being held in the Westmoreland County Jail on $15,000 bond.
Excela Westmoreland Hospital offered no comment Wednesday on the incident.