Former director of nursing accused of stealing hundreds of prescription pills after audit
BATESVILLE, Ark. (WKRC) — A former director of nursing has been accused of stealing hundreds of prescription pills from nursing home residents following an internal audit.
According to KAIT, 51-year-old Carla Renee Shaw was taken into custody after allegedly stealing hundreds of prescription pills.
The investigation began on Dec. 30 after administrators at The Springs of Batesville Nursing Home in Batesville, Arkansas, contacted law enforcement regarding alleged theft incidents. The nursing home reported it conducted an internal audit after an employee noticed medications were not being handled properly. An administrator told police the facility’s two-step medication process was not being followed.
The internal audit revealed approximately 757 prescription pills were missing, including:
- Morphine
- Tramadol
- Hydrocodone
- Oxycodone
According to an affidavit reviewed by KAIT, the administrator stated she believed the thefts were committed by the director of nursing, Carla Renee Shaw, due to Shaw’s direct access to medications and her signature appearing on all documentation related to the missing pills.
- The Interview
After agreeing to an interview with investigators on Jan. 5, Shaw reportedly admitted she was addicted to pain pills and said she had been terminated for stealing narcotics from the facility, according to the outlet.
Shaw allegedly told police she would sign for medications from nurses under her supervision, place them in a filing cabinet in her office, and later retrieve them when no one was around.
Authorities said Shaw admitted to consuming the medications at work and taking them home, adding that she could not recall how many times she committed the acts.
Investigators believe there were 32 documented incidents, beginning April 28 and ending Dec. 17, with medications taken from 25 different patients, KAIT reported.
Shaw, who had been employed at the facility since March 2025, was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to the following charges, according to KAIT:
- Controlled substance—fraudulent practices (32 felony counts)
- Breaking or entering (felony)
She was released after posting a $10,000 bond and is awaiting her next court appearance.
