A former Atrium Health nurse is facing charges after investigators alleged she stole fentanyl from a Charlotte hospital last year.
Katherine Rupert was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 16, according to a warrant obtained by WCNC Charlotte. The 26-year-old was charged with one felony count of embezzling or diverting a controlled substance. The arrest warrant alleges that the incident happened in April 2023 while Rupert worked at Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center hospital in Charlotte.
Investigators accused Rupert of stealing fentanyl from the hospital for personal use, but it's unclear if she or someone else was using it.
An Atrium Health spokesperson said the company was limited on what it could say about the matter, but confirmed Rupert was a registered nurse with the company until her separation on April 27, 2023.
Rupert's arrest comes as more and more people are dying from fentanyl in the Charlotte area. According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, there were at least 179 deaths due to fentanyl last year. That was a 20% increase over 2022.
Fentanyl is the leading factor in deadly overdoses and is believed to be 50 times more powerful than heroin. A lethal dose is the size of Abraham Lincoln's cheek on a penny.
Note: WCNC instituted a policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.