Health worker steals pills from patient, police say

A home health worker in Baxter County is accused of taking prescription medications from a patient in her care, authorities said.

Mary Sue Close, 53, of Yellville is facing charges including possession of a controlled substance and theft of property.

The Baxter County sheriff's office said the victim had noticed that some of her prescription pills had disappeared from her dresser drawer in recent months. So the woman and her daughter counted all the pills before a visit Close made to the home and then counted them again afterward, finding 18 Alprazolam and 20 Tramadol pills missing.

Police on Friday interviewed Close, who "admitted to stealing pills from the victim over the past two months," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

She was arrested Monday and later released after posting $10,000 bond. A Jan. 22 court date is set.

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