x
Breaking News
More () »

Nurse’s Aide Sentenced After Stealing Crucifix From Dying Veteran

WILKES-BARRE – The former nurse’s aide who admitted to stealing a golden crucifix from a dying veteran was sentenced to probation and house arrest. Inside the f...

WILKES-BARRE – The former nurse’s aide who admitted to stealing a golden crucifix from a dying veteran was sentenced to probation and house arrest.

Inside the federal courthouse in Scranton, the judge ordered William Wells to also pay $100 in restitution and to serve 100 hours of community service.

Court records aid Wells swiped a 14K golden crucifix from the neck of Laurel Sywensky, hours before she died after a battle with cancer in December.

Wells was later hit with federal theft charges and pleaded guilty to the crime inside the hospice unit at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center near Wilkes-Barre.

"It's probably the worst thing I ever did," Wells said in court. "When I did this crime, I was possessed, I should have never been on those pills."

Bill Chupko told Newswatch 16 that Wells was not preying on sick veterans, but instead was battling addiction with narcotics after a medical procedure.

“They put him on pain pills, it was a serious operation on his spine, back. It’s just how this disease works, it sneaks up on you. You lose sight of your friends, and it snuck up on him.” Said Chupko. “He is extremely sorry that all of this has happened.”

Before You Leave, Check This Out