A Newport News woman working for BAYADA Home Health Care was arrested Sept. 24 after she allegedly stole more than $21,000 worth of jewelry and silverware from homes where she worked.
James City County Police officers were dispatched Sept. 11 to a home on the 400 block of Littletown Quarter after jewelry was reported stolen. The jewelry was taken from a drawer in the home and is estimated to be worth a little more than $6,000, said Stephanie Williams-Ortery of the James City County Police Department.
Williams-Ortery said officers were dispatched to a home on the 100 block of Roger Smith on Sept. 13 after silverware valued at more than $15,000 was reported stolen. Those items were taken from a china cabinet in the home.
Investigators learned 33-year-old Gloria Walters was in the homes when the thefts occurred. Williams-Ortery said Walters confessed to investigators she had stolen the items while in the homes. The items were sold and none have yet been recovered.
Walters is facing eight counts of felony grand larceny, according to court records.
“We were shocked and saddened to hear that one of our home health aides, Gloria Walters, has confessed to stealing from two of our clients. The comfort, safety, and well-being of our clients is our highest priority,” said David Totaro, chief marketing officer for BAYADA. “BAYADA performs stringent hiring and background checks on all employees, and there was nothing in Ms. Walter’s background that disqualified her for hire. Upon us hearing of the charges, she was removed from her cases and she has been terminated from BAYADA. We continue to cooperate with the investigation.”
BAYADA is a home healthcare company with more than 18,000 workers serving communities in 22 states, according to the company’s webpage. Specialty practices offered by the company include home health, adult nursing, assistive care, pediatrics, hospice and habilitation.
