Strafford woman pleads guilty to stealing $81G from bedridden hospice patient

DOVER - A Strafford woman working as a home care nurse has pleaded guilty to stealing money from an elderly Lee patient who was in hospice care at the time of the thefts.

Nicole Ferry, 26, was sentenced on Tuesday at Strafford Superior Court to five to 10 years in state prison on one class A felony count of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.

On Jan. 24, 2022, Ferry, an LNA, began caring for the hospice patient who was 85 at the time and lived in Lee.

The hospice patient was bedbound and relied on Ferry to perform daily living activities, including bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation and toileting.

Between Feb. 22 and July 11, 2022, the defendant stole and forged 59 checks belonging to G.M., totaling $81,285, according to court documents. Ferry used the funds to, among other things, buy a new car, gamble, and purchase concert and sporting event tickets.

The court sentenced Ferry to 5-10 years stand committed, suspending three years from the minimum term for 10 years. As a condition of her suspended sentence, the court ordered that Ferry pay restitution. Because Ferry satisfied $42,000 of the $81,285 prior to sentencing, the court ordered restitution in the amount of the balance, $39,285. Ferry is also prohibited from caring and acting as fiduciary for elderly, disabled, or impaired adults. In exchange for Ferry's guilty plea, remaining indictments alleging class B felony forgery will be nolle prossed.

Ferry voluntarily surrendered her license to practice as an LNA in October.

Anyone who knows of someone who has been the victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation, please contact your local police department or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (1-800-949-0470).