Thursday, October 22, 2020

Woman arrested on suspicion of more than 100 instances of elder abuse

by  Jordyn Brown

Junction City police are seeking help identifying pieces of stolen jewelry.  Photos of the jewelry can be viewed online at tinyurl.com/junctioncityjewelry.  Junction City Police Department

A 25-year-old woman is potentially facing 99 felony charges and 11 misdemeanor charges after admitting to withholding vital medication and stealing from elderly people at care homes the past five to six years. 

Noelle Jendraszek was arrested Wednesday by Junction City police on suspicion of stealing money, jewelry and drugs from residents at a Junction City assisted-living facility, according to a news release from police.

Jendraszek later confessed to doing so in a notarized affidavit, as well as to similar crimes at previous care facilities where she worked, according to police.

Jendraszek was booked in Lane County Jail on suspicion of the following charges: 55 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, 44 counts of tampering with drug records, five counts of second-degree theft and six counts of third-degree theft.

The release said police began investigating on Sept. 10, when the son of a resident at Junction City Retirement and Assisted Living reported someone had stolen cash from his father. Investigators eventually interviewed Jendraszek, who within hours of the first interview gave up about 275 pieces of jewelry she had admitted to stealing from residents in care facilities where she was employed in the past five or six years, police said.

"Jendraszek has also admitted withholding vital and medically necessary medication from 44 vulnerable and elderly residents whom were (in) her care," the release stated.

Over the years, Jendraszek has worked at the Junction City facility, River Grove Memory Care in Eugene and six care facilities in Salem: Cedar Village Assisted Living Community, Capital Manor Retirement Community, Four Seasons Residential Care, Gibson Creek by Bonaventure, Prestige Senior Living Orchard Heights, and Redwood Heights Retirement and Assisted Living Community.

In her statement of guilt, Jendraszek said the following, according to police: “I am very apologetic for any harm I have done and/or any sadness I have caused. It is my intent to correct my wrongs and do the right thing by taking responsibility for my actions. I hope someday that all the families and persons I have harmed can find it within themselves to forgive me because I know what I have done is wrong and I am seeking the help I need to recover and become a better person.”

Junction City police are seeking help identifying the pieces of stolen jewelry. They are asking people with a friend or relative who lived at any of these care facilities in the past five years who believe their jewelry may have been stolen to examine the photos posted on this website: tinyurl.com/junctioncityjewelry.

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