Healthcare Assistant Arrested, Accused of Stealing from Patients
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MCNAIRY COUNTY, Tenn. – A local nursing assistant is jailed, accused of stealing from her elderly patients. A family member of one of the victim’s said she was stunned when she got a call regarding the alleged improprieties of Andrea Tidwell. “Andrea had been fired the weekend prior for taking stuff from people’s homes in money, in food, and (prescription) drugs,” Martha Jones. Jones said a TennCare official advised that she check on her mother, Bertha Steward, who had been a patient of the accused worker. “At that point, I had a feeling mother had been giving her money and when I checked, she had,” Jones said. “And I thought my mother is 89-years-old, she’s on a very fixed income, and this one’s been stealing from her.” Jones said her mother gave Tidwell hundreds of dollars in checks and cash. Investigators said that Tidwell claims the money was given as gifts, but family members said she exploited the victims, always making a pull at their emotions. “Oh her husband was sick with the flu, they had no insurance money for him to go to the hospital,” Jones said. “And then later she cried that her kids didn’t have anything to eat or weren’t going to get anything for Christmas.” Jones said she and her family have known Tidwell for years. And if she targeted their loved one fear that more victims might be nearby. “To think somebody from this neighborhood, that grew up around all of us, went to school with my kids and stuff would do this, it’s shameful,” Jones said. Tidwell faces multiple theft charges. If you believe you or anyone in your family may have fallen victim to Tidwell, call the McNairy County Sheriff’s Department.
