‘My heart dropped’: Provincial inspector recalls narcotics probe involving Elizabeth Wettlaufer

A provincial inspector is recalling an investigation into missing narcotics at one of the long-term care homes where Elizabeth Wettlaufer worked.

Rhonda Kukoly is testifying at the public inquiry in St. Thomas and said after Wettlaufer’s crimes came to light, she started going through old documents.

“I can tell you my heart dropped when I heard that it was me that did that inspection and it involved Elizabeth Wettlaufer.”

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As for that investigation, Kukoly said Meadow Park’s staff reported that the pharmacist and driver were able to help confirm that the narcotics were successfully delivered to the home.

“They also reported to me that a staff member, an RN, the day before the medication was received on Sept. 25, divulged information to the home that she had a drug and alcohol problem and had a bad weekend,” she said.

“On Sept. 26, the day that it was missing, that particular RN was working that day at the time of the delivery.”

That RN was Wettlaufer, who resigned before staff noticed the medication was gone.

“The RN gave two weeks’ notice. And the two weeks’ notice was sick time.”

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Meadow Park’s director of care, Heather Nicholas, testified in late June at the hearing that Wettlaufer had told her that she’d overdosed and had addictions to drugs and alcohol four days after the medication was delivered to the home, though she resigned just before the medication was delivered.

Ultimately, investigators were not able to prove who took the medication and the probe ended without any finding of non-compliance on behalf of the home.

Earlier in the day, Kukoly testified that reports or complaints are assigned to one of five risk levels and each level has a different time frame attached to it.

Level one is minimum risk and level two is minimal risk or potential for actual harm; those are supposed to get assigned within 90 to 120 days.

Level three is actual risk or harm and is mandated to be inspected within 60 days.

Level three plus has a target date for inspection of 30 days while Level four is to be inspected immediately.

Kukoly told the hearing inspectors focus on the most serious cases but struggle to inspect lower level complaints and reports on time.

The inquiry is tasked with reviewing how Wettlaufer was able to get away with murdering and hurting patients for roughly 10 years.

In 2017, Wettlaufer was sentenced to life in prison without parole eligibility for 25 years after pleading guilty to eight counts of first-degree murder and six counts of attempt to commit murder for incidents between 2007 and 2016.

— With files from Global News Radio 980 CFPL’s Jaclyn Carbone.