News Ethics
Worker who stole jewelry from long-term care residents jailed

A former long-term care worker has been sentenced to a year in jail for stealing jewelry from some Winnipeg nursing home’s residents with dementia.

Anna Mercado, who looked after many of the seniors at the Kildonan Long Term Care Centre, pleaded guilty in October to eight counts of theft under $5,000.

The judge said she abused her position of trust.

Mercado faces 24 months of probation once she is released.

She has also been ordered to pay restitution to the victims’ families.

Last month, several family members read victim impact statements describing how hurt they were by the thefts, many of which involved wedding rings.

The families said Mercado had taken a priceless piece of jewelry that can now never be passed down to future generations.

They also wrote that they felt betrayed and were concerned about the treatment their mothers had received before the thefts.

Mercado apologized to the families. She said she had no valid reason for stealing the jewelry and, despite what she did, she cared about and loved the residents. (CTV Winnipeg)