Health Aide Steals Money, Medication From 94-Year-Old Victim

Edgewater, FL - A Daytona Beach woman is facing multiple charges after investigators discovered she was stealing medication and using the credit card of a 94-year-old patient under their care. Deputies with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office (VSO) say 35-year-old Cory Whealen was arrested following an investigation into the missing pills and fraudulent credit card charges she accrued throughout the month of January. Investigators say the victim, who has home health aides assisting them 24 hours a day, had a bottle of Tramadol—a type of painkiller—go missing sometime between January 18th and 21st. However, days after a family member reported the pills missing, the bottle was discovered behind the victim’s bed and seemed to have just been misplaced. But, on closer inspection, it was discovered the pills in the bottle were actually tablets of ibuprofen. As a family member investigated the situation, they discovered that when the bottle was found behind the bed it was because Whealen insisted a pest control worker move the bed to spray for bugs. The family member additionally found several suspicious charges on the victim’s credit card that totaled $1,031.52 and included a purchase of 28 Hydrocodone pills prescribed to the victim. When that bottle was checked, it was discovered those pills had been swapped out with acetaminophen. After finding the charges, the family member reported them to the bank and VSO. According to VSO, investigators also found that Whealen submitted receipts for reimbursement from the victim for the items she purchased using their credit card, causing the victim to pay for the items twice. Whealen was arrested Monday afternoon (February 22nd) and charged with exploitation of an elderly person, neglect of an elderly person, two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, theft of a credit card, 13 counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, two counts of fraud in obtaining a medicinal drug and two counts of petit theft. She has since been released after posting $30,000 bond.