In a significant drug bust in Owensboro, Kentucky, eight suspects are facing multiple charges, including a nurse accused of stealing medical drugs from her workplace. The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation following numerous tips regarding a drug trafficking operation allegedly centered at the residence of Pamela Bartimus.

Bartimus, a 61-year-old employee of Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Kentucky, was found to be pilfering medication from her job. Upon obtaining a search warrant for her home, law enforcement discovered suspects residing in both the garage and the backyard. During the operation, officers encountered resistance from a pit bull owned by one of the residents, resulting in the deputy discharging their firearm for self-defense, subsequently leading to the euthanization of the animal.

The search yielded a cache of stolen medical supplies, including fentanyl patches, liquid morphine, Trazadone, Flexeril, and various prescription medications bearing at least ten different patient names. It was revealed that Bartimus had been stealing medications from deceased patients as well as those in their final stages of life.

Moreover, evidence seized from the premises included components for manufacturing methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana, meth, and loaded syringes, among other illicit substances. Sheriff Brad Youngman commended the cooperation of Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Kentucky in the investigation, emphasizing their proactive stance in addressing the situation.

Among those arrested alongside Bartimus are Luke T. Bartimus, James D. Taylor, Joshywa E. Reece, Virgil R. Young, Jerri B. White, Eddie E. Barrows, and Katherine R. Johnson. The hospice organization confirmed Bartimus’s termination and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement authorities.

The arrests underscore the severity of the alleged criminal activities and highlight the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and healthcare institutions to combat drug-related offenses in the community.