People often admit themselves to the hospital to get treated for their illness but for one woman, the intensive care unit of a Pennsylvania hospital served purposes other than getting medical care.
Lori Sullenberger, 38, from Youngwood, Pa., was admitted as a patient at Excela Westmoreland Hospital on April 14 for an undisclosed ailment, but the unusual activities happening in and out of her room made the hospital staff suspicious.
Hospital staff noticed that a lot of people have been visiting Sullenberger's room and although it is not unusual for a patient to receive plenty of visitors, those who visit Sullenberger exhibited strange behaviors. Rather than staying for a period of time, for instance, the people who come to see Sullenberger come and go in as little as two minutes.
Sullenberger also had several cellphones with her that rang all the time and the people who visited her room did not know her last name. Medical staff found these behaviors strange so they contacted the hospital security staff, who watched the surveillance cameras and noticed the same odd behaviors.
"The Intensive Care Unit at Excela Westmoreland Hospital cares for the sickest of sick patients, which is another reason our staff is keenly aware of what is happening in and around a patient's room as they monitor for sudden changes in health status," said Excela Westmoreland Hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Miele.
The Greensburg police were contacted, and they then sent an undercover informant to buy $90 worth of heroin from Sullenberger on Friday. Greensburg Police Captain Chad Zucco said that the informant was able to buy around 30 bags of heroin from the suspect. In a subsequent search of the room, the police were also able to uncover 380 bags of heroin with an estimated street value of $3,800, two syringes, and $1,400 in cash.
Although police are still investigating how the suspect managed to bring the drugs inside the hospital, Zucco noted that during her hospital stay, the patient placed the drugs in her purse as well as inside her hospital room's drawers.
"Definitely is one of the more unique cases, to be selling narcotics out of an intensive care unit where obviously people are trying to get help," Zucco said.
Charges have already been filed against Sullenberger. Her boyfriend, Jason Bates, as well as Robert Rearick, who police say had drugs from the suspect, were also charged.
