Carol Ballweg allegedly admitted to having an opioid addiction and to taking her daughter’s oxycodone for herself.
A Missouri mother has been arrested for allegedly stealing her terminally ill daughter’s prescribed painkillers to help feed her own opioid addiction, police said.
Carol Ballweg, 46, was the primary caregiver for her 20-year-old daughter, identified by police as “CM,” who was under hospice care and suffering from a terminal illness, Troy police said.
CM had been prescribed fentanyl and oxycodone for pain, but medical staff at the hospice noted they were concerned she was not receiving her medication, officials said.
Ballweg allegedly requested the prescriptions for the pain medication be filled earlier than what was necessary several times, staffers told police.
Medical staff had made several “hotline” calls to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), expressing concerns about Ballweg and the care her daughter was receiving. They also noted CM had developed bed sores while under the care of her mother.
CM’s home health aide also lodged complaints with the DHSS regarding issues with her medication.
Doctors told police that, because of their concerns, they decided to screen CM’s urine and on Sept. 7, when they found no traces of her prescribed medication. They then decided to stop filling CM’s prescriptions, authorities said.
Investigators searched Ballweg’s home Tuesday, and Ballweg allegedly admitted to having an opioid addiction and to taking her daughter’s oxycodone herself.
Ballweg was charged Wednesday with four counts of stealing a controlled substance and two counts of abusing an elderly, disabled or vulnerable person, cops said.
She was being held at the Lincoln County jail on $100,000 cash bond. She remained in custody Friday, according to online records.
A judge has also ordered Ballweg to have no contact with her daughter.
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