Caregiver Drugs Patient
by In Decatur, Georgia, Felicia Harvey drugged her patient and stole $80,000 from her bank account.
In Decatur, Georgia, Felicia Harvey was convicted of drugging and then bilking a 97 year old patient in a case the judge called, “horrifying.” Court Judge Clarence Seeliger said Harvey might have killed her if the fraud had not been discovered in time. At the same time, Seeliger was alarmed to find that Harvey was also negotiating a Gwinnett County case in which she had pleaded guilty to stealing almost $17,000 from a 90 year old woman with Alzheimer’s.
In Decatur, June 2008 an elderly lady named M.T. Agnew broke her shoulder in a fall. She was in good health otherwise, but needed a caregiver and hired Harvey from a service. Mrs. Agnew quickly grew to trust Harvey. Harvey began giving Agnew sleeping pills and prescription strength Tylenol PM. DeKalb deputy chief assistant district attorney Jeanne Canaban told Seeliger. Harvey did this to get control over Agnew’s mail so she never saw her bank statements.
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Agnew’s health worsened. Her skin turned gray and her eyes sunk back in her head. Her friends and relatives thought she was dying. Harvey was writing checks on Agnew’s account to pay her own bills and more. Before it came to an end Harvey had taken $80,000 from Agnew’s account. Agnew fired Harvey when the fraud was discovered. She hired a new caregiver and her health quickly improved. The new caregiver said, “She perked up like a spring chicken.”
After Harvey was charged in DeKalb, It was learned that she had been previously charged, but not convicted in Fulton county, accused of stealing from an 80 year old wheelchair bound woman in 2005. Harvey had also been charged in Gwinnett County of stealing from a client in 2007. She had started taking the woman out to lunch and going by the bank to get money to pay for the meal. Unwittingly, the woman filled out checks for up to $1,200 at a time. In all Harvey stole more than $16,900 from the woman. In April Harvey pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years probation
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Harvey’s lawyer said, “My client made some horrible decisions and now must face some terrible consequences. Seeliger hesitated before accepting the prosecution’s recommended of an 8 year prison sentence, calling it “extraordinarily lenient” Canavan replied that Agnew was so traumatized she did not want to testify. After a brief recess, Seeliger accepted the recommendation.
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Post Commentcardy
On October 31, 2009 at 5:42 am
I really liked the read and write from you nice work
ken bultman
On October 31, 2009 at 5:46 am
Interesting read of a situation that is all too prevalent. Some caregivers are better at taking than giving. Some services are lax in background checking.
cutedrishti8
On October 31, 2009 at 5:54 am
A great piece of work..
chitragopi
On October 31, 2009 at 6:11 am
There should be more security for the people who become dependent on the caregivers. Good article throwing light on this.
pattiann
On October 31, 2009 at 6:27 am
Loved your article! It is a shame how some of the strong betray the weak.
Christine Ramsay
On October 31, 2009 at 7:57 am
Gosh! Some people are so wicked. I say throw away the key. Good work,
Ruby.
Christine
Melody SJAL
On October 31, 2009 at 8:09 am
How terrible. Nicely presented piece.
Lostash
On October 31, 2009 at 8:36 am
These people are disgusting!
thestickman
On October 31, 2009 at 9:00 am
Elder abuse is a real problem. People that prey upon the old & infirmed have a special table reserved for them in Hell.
lindalulu
On October 31, 2009 at 10:02 am
Absolutely horrible! I was my mothers caregiver for eight years and taking advantage of anyone in this situation is uncalled for. 8 years is nothing, This woman should get a life sentence as far as I am concerned. The elderly seem to be the ones people target in all sorts of scams. I guess people forget that the elderly are our parents and grandparents and they are the ones who made all of us. respect is what everyone should have for the elderly not what you can get out of them or how you can scam them. Yes Ruby, you hit a nerve with me on this one…..
PR Mace
On October 31, 2009 at 10:07 am
This was horrible and the statement about making bad decisions, what a bunch of bull. It is people that this that make people afraid to seek the care they need and give caregivers and nurses a bad name. Thanks for being this story to light.
Michael Eboh
On October 31, 2009 at 10:30 am
Thanks for sharing….
strovek
On October 31, 2009 at 10:31 am
Scary of what could happen when we grow old.
martinpm
On October 31, 2009 at 10:34 am
Interesting, awareness is the key. great article.
Alicia Wind
On October 31, 2009 at 10:39 am
The caregiver is liable to emotional abuse, financially abuse…., should be charge. It’s punishable by law.
Phill Senters
On October 31, 2009 at 11:33 am
A good article Ruby. I agree with some of the others. Eight years seems inadequate.. The real crime is that such a criminal was allowed to be a caregiver.
alc
On October 31, 2009 at 2:00 pm
That is just horrible!
lillyrose
On October 31, 2009 at 2:20 pm
That makes me ashamed to be a human. It is a worrying fact that the people meant to care the most do not seem to at all. And 8 years is far to short a sentence.
Jane Benitez
On October 31, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Thank goodness her health improved – she must have had a guardian angel watching out for her. What a shame her caregiver betrayed her in such a horrible way.
Lost in Arizona
On October 31, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I helped care for my mother for ten years, and it sickens me to know that people are capable of committing such sick crimes against those who can’t care for themselves. That piece of human excrement should have gotten more time in prison since this wasn’t her first offense. Absolutely disgusting what that woman did.
xoxo
On October 31, 2009 at 3:38 pm
That was horrible. Its a good thing she was still lucky. Thanks for sharing this, Ruby.
Snooky
On October 31, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Whew Have you hit on an infintesimal subject here. I’ve seen that happen so many times–from floor staff permanently borrowing money to big time agencies charging for ghost equipment and services. This is a super gigantic problem.
I can’t see a solution, too many variables.
Your are brave to dive into this one.
Tanya Wallace
On October 31, 2009 at 7:01 pm
You sure do write about some noteworthy topics that always lead to discussion! Brillaint write Ruby! It’s good to know that she recovered and the caregiver was charged!!
Frances Lawrence
On October 31, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Abusing the old and vulnerable really is the lowest of the low. The sentence was far too short.
larry84
On October 31, 2009 at 8:19 pm
thanks for the share
Shirley Shuler
On October 31, 2009 at 9:46 pm
This was a great read, Ruby. It makes you aware of what can happen in what is suppose to be your golden years.
Steven West
On October 31, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I hate people who take advantage of the elderly. Nice reporting of this matter.
Moses Ingram
On October 31, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Ruby, your work is so interesting! It is terrible to see what some people will do to the elderly but thanks for another interesting read.
giftarist
On November 1, 2009 at 5:09 am
Interesting! Well written!
J J Neuman
On November 1, 2009 at 8:50 am
Wow, only an 8 year sentence….to me, it doesn’t seem long enough.
Judy Sheldon
On November 1, 2009 at 11:44 am
Harvey got off light. Thank God she did not kill her patient. It is truly sad. We need to remain alert to the safety of our elderly. To have her trust betrayed like that is horrifying. .
RS Wing
On November 1, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Yah, they should have given a life sentence. How cruel and deceitful. Stealing from seniors…..real cute…..makes me want to vomit. This is not an isolated case. The elderly and disabled get the worst type of treatment at times. One day this character will be a senior and realize the inhumane and terrible acts they have committed. Great social commentary on a sad and ugly truth. Lock ‘em up and throw away the keys for these bums!
Jamie Myles
On November 1, 2009 at 6:16 pm
This woman is predator and unfortunately there are more like out there. They deserve the harshest punishment that the law allows.Good article Ruby.
deep blue
On November 1, 2009 at 7:52 pm
That’s the worst thing to happen. An abuse of one’s trust. Well written Ruby.
CA Johnson
On November 1, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I really enjoyed your write up of such a very disturbing story, Ruby. I think that was so horrible that Felicia Harvey did that to her patients. She is making other caregivers look so bad.
Hettie
On November 2, 2009 at 3:02 am
I found the article very interesting. Its amazing how people can do this to other people and think they will not get found out, though its cruel that they are not found out till they have hurt a number of people.
Jo Oliver
On November 2, 2009 at 3:46 am
8 years hardly seems just. It takes a really scumbag to steal from the most vulnerable population. Stealing in general is horrible, but stealing from a vulnerable person is just beyond a label.
SharifaMcFarlane
On November 3, 2009 at 12:39 am
Why is it that some people prey on people whe they are at their most defenceless?
I’ve heard that some people will even set up false debt assistance to scam people who are having problems repaying their debts out of the little money they have left when they go to get help.
This woman is a monster and she should be locked up for life at hard labour.
The cases mentioned are probably less than the actual number because some of the people affected probably never reported her.
Jane Jane
On November 3, 2009 at 9:59 am
She’s deserving of the punishment.
CutestPrincess
On November 18, 2009 at 3:16 pm
horrible… we should not rely on caregivers… and take care of our own relatives!