Nurse Accused Of Taking Inappropriate Photos Of Elderly Patients, Possessing Child Pornography
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A licensed practical nurse is accused of taking inappropriate photos of more than a dozen elderly nursing home patients.
Thirty-year old Ashley Smith, of Dravosburg, was arrested by Allegheny County Police on Friday after she allegedly took 19 photos of 17 elderly patients at the Kane Community Living Center in McKeesport without their knowledge.
Smith was employed at the facility as a licensed practice nurse.
In some of the photos, the patients were undressed.
Disturbing details of the crime are in the police criminal complaint.
"Some of the images showed people in need of immediate care, and in private situations," the criminal complaint says.
The complaint also says, "There was a video of a medical procedure performed on one of the victims while the patient was naked."
Investigators said, "None of the photos or video appear to have any medical or lawful useful purpose."
According to investigators, they found derogatory statements linked to some of the explicit photographs and video, and they believed the pictures were taken for the sole purpose of humiliating the patients.
County Police became aware of the inappropriate photos after a Kane Hospital administrator contacted them when he received the material from a ex-employee at the hospital who, according to our partners at the Post-Gazette, was Smith's former boyfriend.
The Post-Gazette also reports two pornographic photos of a 2-year-old girl were also found on Smith's phone.
