Macomb County Nurse Accused Of Stealing Patients' Morphine

MT. CLEMENS (WWJ) - A Macomb County nurse is facing multiple charges, accused of stealing narcotics intended for patients.

Karen Lynn Spearman, 53, of Rockford, was allegedly caught by management while on the job Tuesday at Martha T. Berry Medical Facility, a nursing center in Mt. Clemens.

A routine inventory check allegedly revealed that Spearman had taken morphine from vials her medical cart, stored it in a container and hid in a garbage bag. An investigation found, to hide her crime, she'd then added water to the morphine vials to conceal the theft — diluting the potency of her patients' medication.

Once found out, Spearman consented to a drug test, management said, but she fled before she could take it — striking a coworker with her car in her haste to get away.

Macomb County Sheriff's deputies responding to the scene spotted Spearman's vehicle close by, pulled her over, and took her into custody.

Spearman was arraigned Thursday on charges of larceny in a building, adulterating/misbranding medicine and operating with license suspended.

She was released on a $7,500 cash/surety bond and is due back in court for a hearing on Jan. 27.

The employee struck by Spearman's vehicle was not injured.