Nurse accused of stealing from Alzheimer's patient

A 45-year-old registered nurse surrendered to authorities in Bucks County yesterday and was charged with stealing $22,000 from an elderly Alzheimer's patient she had befriended, a county official said.

Donna Hammerstone, of Wigton Circle, Perkasie, was accused of stealing from a 71-year-old man she met while visiting another person at an apartment building on Whitehall Drive, Doylestown Township, said Bucks County First Assistant District Attorney David Zellis.

Hammerstone became the man's helper, house cleaning and monitoring his blood pressure and pill intake, according to an affidavit accompanying the criminal complaint. They went on errands together and dated, the document said.

Between September and January, Zellis said, Hammerstone wrote checks drawn on the man's account at Wachovia Bank. She also used his two Chase Bank credit cards, Zellis said.

The money was used to pay for back taxes, a heat pump for Hammerstone's home, lingerie from Victoria's Secret, online dating, a laptop computer, an iPod, and a room at the Showboat Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City.

The man, a widower in a moderate stage of Alzheimer's disease, lived independently in an apartment, but didn't understand he was being robbed, Zellis said.

The financial irregularities came to light after the man's adult daughter noticed that there were frequent credit-card purchases and checks written to him and Hammerstone for cash.

"She grew suspicious and called the police, who launched an investigation and also involved the county's agency on aging," Zellis said.

Detective Cpl. Frank Bochenek of the Doylestown Township police met with the man, his family and agency workers in January, and with their help, traced back $22,000 in disbursements to Hammerstone, Zellis said.

Hammerstone surrendered yesterday morning at Magisterial District Judge Philip J. Daly's courtroom in Doylestown.

She was arraigned on charges of theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property - all third-degree felonies. She was released on her own recognizance. Bail was set at $40,000.

No one answered the phone at her home yesterday evening.

If convicted, Hammerstone could face a maximum penalty of 15 years in a state penitentiary, Zellis said.