LINCOLN COUNTY, MO — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on theft and abuse allegations.
On Monday, police were dispatched to Troy Family Practice for a drug offense. Upon arrival medical staff reported concerns of neglect and drug abuse relating to a patient, according to a media release.
Medical staff told officers they were treating a patient identified as CM (age 20) who is terminally ill and under the care of hospice and her primary care giver is her mother identified as 46-year-old Carol Ballweg.
Staff listed concerns regarding Ballweg not providing the patient pain medications. She had had been prescribed Fentanyl and Oxycodone for pain.
Medical staff had previously made numerous “hotline” calls regarding the daughter’s care. Staff had concerns regarding Ballweg’s requests for the above medications be filled earlier than should be required on several occasions.
Medical staff also advised an ongoing investigation by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and provided the name of the investigator.
Due to the ongoing concerns doctor requested a drug screen of the patient’s urine.
On September 7, the patient’s urine screen showed no signs of her prescribed medication in her system. At that time medical staff made the determination to no longer fill the prescriptions.
Medical staff also advised that the patient had developed bed sores, pictures of the sores were provided to officers.
Troy Officers made contact with DHSS investigators and confirmed there was an ongoing investigation regarding CM’s cares. DHSS investigators also stated they had received complaints from CM’s home health provider regarding the medication issues.
With this and additional information Troy Officers executed a search warrant at Ballweg’s address on September 11.
During the course of the investigation Ballweg admitted to having a addiction to opioids. Ballweg also confessed to taking her daughter’s oxycodone medication and using it herself.
On September 12, Ballweg was charged with four (4) counts of Stealing a Controlled Substance and two (2) counts of Abuse of Elderly, Disabled, or Vulnerable Person. The Honorable Judge Allsberry set bond at $100,000 cash only and upon release is to have no contact with the victim.
TROY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri woman has been charged with stealing her terminally ill daughter’s pain medications.
Forty-six-year-old Carol Ballweg, of Troy, was charged Wednesday with four counts of stealing a controlled substance and two counts of abuse of a vulnerable person.
Police say Ballweg was the primary caregiver for her 20-year-old daughter who is in hospice care. Medical staff found bed sores on the daughter and began suspecting the daughter wasn’t being given the prescribed doses of fentanyl and oxycodone, so they tested her urine. Police say it showed no signs of the medications, even though Ballweg repeatedly requested refills ahead of schedule.
Police say Ballweg confessed to being addicted to opioids and using the medicine herself. Bond is set at $100,000. No attorney is listed for Ballweg in online court records.