A female Summit Hill caregiver has been charged with stealing medication from the Rush Township man she was supposed to be caring for.

Rush Township police have charged Katherine Rose White, 45, of the 300 block of West Iron Street, with neglect of care of dependent person, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. All the counts are misdemeanors.

Police Chief Kenneth Zipovsky said he received a complaint from the relative of a township man concerning theft and neglect of care. The relative said the man requires care due to a stroke and is living in his home in the township. The relative also said that medication had been stolen.

The relative related that on March 18 a pill count was conducted of Vicodin/hydrocodone, which was prescribed for the man. Ten pills were missing.

On March 22 there were 22 pills in a bottle when White was working in the residence. Later in the day the relative checked the pill bottle and learned eight of the pills were missing.

Then on March 27 White was again at the residence providing care. A check again was made of the pill bottle in question and there were only three pills left. Police said sometime between 2 and 4 p.m., while White was present, nine pills were removed from the bottle.

On the evening of March 27 the prescription was refilled with 25 Vicodin pills. White was still at the residence, and after she left about midnight, another check of the pill bottle was made and there were only 11 pills left.

Early on March 28, Zipovsky said, the relative called White about the missing medication. She told White that a video surveillance system had captured her taking the pills. White, according to the police report, said she was sorry and agreed to bring the pills back to the residence.

The relative met White outside the residence and Zipovsky came to the scene. As Zipovsky approached the two, the relative said to White, “Are you going to give the police the pills?”

White replied, “yes.” She then handed Zipovsky a cellophane wrapper from the bottom of a pack of cigarettes that contained seven pills.

White then agreed to go to the police station with Zipovsky, where she admitted that she stole the pills.

The total amount of pills stolen during a 10-day period was 41, with a value of $44.28.