Nurse accused of stealing more than $140K from blind elderly man in Polk County

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A home care nurse was arrested Thursday in Polk County after more than $140,000 was stolen from a 77-year-old blind man, according to the sheriff’s office.

Detectives said 46-year-old nurse Carrie Hutchinson was initially hired to care for the victim’s wife, but she passed away in 2020.

But even after his death, the victim kept Hutchinson as his personal assistant, so he had access to her financial accounts to help her pay her bills, shop and handle her finances, a news release states.

According to lawmakers, he was receiving a salary of $5,800 a month until 2024, after which his salary was increased by $6,000 a month.

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But investigators say the man became suspicious about what was going on with his finances in July, so he reached out to a friend (a retired CFO) to investigate his financial accounts.

The news release shows that many fraudulent transactions occurred, including:

• “Pop On Veneers” order sent to Hutchinson in July — Victim’s American Express card charged $780

• United Airlines ticket for a friend of Hutchinson’s to fly to Florida to visit him in December 2023 — Charged to victim’s American Express card

• Payment made to Allegiant Airlines in August 2023 for Hutchinson and four friends to fly to Bangor, Maine — $1,588 charged to victim’s Bank of America card

• 270 orders from victim’s Amazon account from April 2021 to July 2024 — $4,774

In total, deputies charged him with stealing $141,594.

“The thefts from the victim over four years included ATM withdrawals and travel payments, photography lessons, VRBO rentals, pet supplies, animal hospital expenses, and personal credit cards,” the statement says.

Deputies said the victim confronted him about the theft and kicked him out after Hutchinson returned from a cruise in July.

In response, Hutchinson reportedly told the victim that he had “borrowed money” from her to cover the cost of the cruise and planned to pay it back. But he claimed he could no longer do so after he was fired, MPs added.

“This woman’s actions are despicable,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. “It is inexcusable and inexcusable for an old man to entrust him with all his savings while at the same time benefiting from a good salary.”

Hutchinson faces charges of grand theft of $100,000 or more; exploitation of the elderly; and criminal use of another person’s identity.

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