Nursing Home Employees Face Drug Charges

Carthage police received a tip on Oct. 26 that drugs were being diverted from Tara Plantation, a 74-bed, assisted-living center that specializes in caring for Alzheimer's patients. A pharmacy had recalled medication from the center and found that medications ranging from Percocet to sodium bicarbonate had been replaced with other substances, police said.

After conducting interviews with the administrator, several employees and patients, five people were charged with various drug offenses, police said.

Tara Plantation administrator Kathleen Ann McElroy, 51, of Cameron, was charged with four counts of conspiracy to sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substances and three counts of possession of marijuana.

Medical coordinator Eva Lorraine Brewer, 44, of Asheboro, was charged with four counts of felony possession of marijuana, two counts of obtaining controlled substances by forgery or fraud and one count each of obtaining property by false pretense and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Business manager Denise Lynn Barron, 44, of Carthage, was charged with four counts each of selling or delivering Schedule II controlled substances and possession of Schedule II controlled substances.

Kitchen supervisor Rich Howard McElroy, 54, of Cameron, was charged with four counts each of selling or delivering Schedule II controlled substances and possession of Schedule II controlled substances, three counts of possession of marijuana and one count of selling or delivering Schedule IV controlled substances.

Medical technician Latanya Winette Verbal, 37, of Carthage, was charged with selling or delivering marijuana and possession of marijuana. She also was charged with unrelated warrants for worthless checks.