Oregon Nurse Busted After Stealing Elderly Patients’ Bank Cards for Shopping Spree Across Two Counties

A certified Oregon nursing assistant has been charged with stealing the bank cards of two elderly people in her care to go on a spending spree in Washington and Columbia Counties.

Jeanette Lynn Collins (58) of Lafayette was taken into custody by the McMinnville Police Department on July 15 following months of investigation, and after she admitted to the theft and unauthorized use of the debit cards.

The first incident was reported to the Scappoose Police Department in  August 2024 concerning the theft of a bank card from a woman while she was a patient at the OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center.

The second incident involves the Life Care Center in McMinnville where an elderly patient reported that her card had been stolen from her room on June 28.

Her card had been used for two transactions at the local Walmart on June 20 and 23. The shop released a video to the police identifying Collins in both transactions.

Nurse is Charged With Criminal Mistreatment, Theft, and Fraud

A Washington County grand jury indicted Collins on June 13 on charges of first-degree criminal mistreatment, second-degree theft, the fraudulent use of a credit card, and identity theft.

According to the indictment, Collins is accused of illegally robbing two elderly people in her care and using their bank cards for personal gain.

After the indictment, a warrant was issued for Collins’ arrest, and she was taken into custody by the McMinnville police and booked into the Yamhill County Jail. Collins admitted to the police that she had used the bank cards because she was broke after she had been read her Miranda rights.

Investigators believe there could be other victims related to the case and are appealing to the public to contact the Scappoose Police Department or their local law enforcement agency if they have any more information that could help with the investigation. The case number is SPD #240039389.