Harmar police say pharmacy tech stole over 15K doses of prescription drugs

A pharmacy technician at an adult training facility admitted to stealing more than 15,000 doses of various prescription drugs used to treat anxiety, panic disorders and opioid addiction, Harmar police said.

Stephanie L. Murphy, 44, of the 300 block of South Atlantic Avenue in Bloomfield was charged with felony counts of theft and prohibited acts. She was released on a nonmonetary bond and faces a preliminary hearing before District Judge David Sosovicka on Oct. 31, according to court records.

Police wrote in a criminal complaint that officials from Passavant Memorial Homes, which operates an adult training facility in the township, reported April 4 that an inventory of controlled medications in its pharmacy revealed that “the count numbers were off by large margins.”

Company officials said surveillance video shows Murphy hiding pills in latex gloves, baggies and small envelopes, the complaint said.

They told police Murphy is suspected of adding the drugs to orders that were placed with the pharmacy for patients so she could steal them.

Police said Murphy agreed to talk to an officer and an agent from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration when they went to her home May 5.

She told investigators that between November and March, she stole the pills so she could sell them in her neighborhood. She said she was “having financial issues and this was a way to help make some money,” the complaint said.

During an Aug. 25 interview with police, Murphy confirmed the list of missing drugs totaling 15,052 doses.

Investigators said Murphy took 10,776 doses of clonazepam and 3,986 doses of alprazolam, which both are used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.

She also took 290 doses of buprenorphine strips, which are used to treat opioid addiction.

The drugs were valued at $2,144, according to her arrest papers.