Nurse Accused of Stealing Over $26K From 84-Year-Old Patient Waives Hearing

| July 11, 2019

CHERRYTREE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (EYT) – A Titusville woman who allegedly stole over $26,000.00 from an elderly patient at a care home in Cherrytree Township waived her preliminary hearing yesterday.

Court documents indicate the following criminal charges against 48-year-old Marci A. Burnside, of Titusville, were waived for court on Wednesday, July 10:

– Forgery – Unauthorized Act In Writing, Felony 2 (43 counts)
– Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Felony 3
– Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Misdemeanor 1 (42 counts)

The charges have been transferred to the Venango County Court of Common Pleas.

Unable to post $26,657.00 monetary bail, Burnside remains lodged in the Venango County Jail.

The charges stem from an investigating initiated in January of this year.

According to a criminal complaint, around 3:30 p.m. on January 14, 2019, a known individual from a personal care home in Cherrytree Township, Venango County, was interviewed by Trooper McClimans.

The individual reported that the victim, who is now 84 years old, came to the care home in June 2017 and noted that he had no local family to take care of his expenses, so she began to help him with his checkbook. The individual stated “they don’t usually do this,” but since the victim had no one looking after him, she decided to help him.

According to the complaint, the individual stated after about a month, she asked the nurse, Marci A. Burnside, who took care of the victim on a daily basis, if she would help him with his checkbook and his bills, which Burnside agreed to do.

The individual went on to relate that on Friday, January 11, 2019, Burnside was on a day off, so when the mail came, the individual decided to help with the victim’s checkbook. The individual then showed Trooper McClimans some written notes she had made with some large dollar amounts that looked suspicious and noted that she had contacted Protective Services of Venango County about her concerns and was transferred to the Crawford County Protective Services because Burnside’s husband worked for Venango County in some capacity, and made an appointment with Crawford County Protective Services for January 15.

Trooper McClimans then interviewed the victim on January 15.

According to the complaint, the victim stated he never gave Burnside permission to take any money. He noted that Burnside had been helping him with his bills and, because he has a hard time writing, Burnside would write out the checks and show him, and he would sign them. He also related that lately, Burnside had begun to have him sign blank checks.

The victim was then shown his checkbook ledger and how things didn’t match up, and asked if anyone else had helped him with his checkbook.

According to the complaint, the victim said, “No, just Marci,” and when asked if Burnside ever asked to borrow anything, he said she had not.

The complaint notes the victim also provided a short statement.

Trooper Haun interviewed the victim again on June 26.

According to the complaint, after Trooper Haun showed the victim a total of 43 checks from his account that were written out to Burnside, he asked the victim if Burnside had permission to take the money, and the victim stated she did not. The victim also denied ever lending money to Burnside, and said, “Marci took this money from me without asking.”

The 43 checks written to Burnside from the victim’s account totaled $26,657.00, according to the complaint. Copies of the checks that were deposited/cashed by Burnside were obtained from a Titusville bank.

Burnside was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, July 1.


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