A Cooper County woman, who was a registered nurse, has been formally charged with a felony for allegedly stealing a large amount of controlled medications from a hospital in Boone County.
A probable-cause statement says on June 12, 2018, 40-year-old Leslie Neal, of Otterville, reportedly was confronted by her supervisor at University Hospital in Columbia and stated she had been removing fentanyl, a Schedule 1 narcotic, from medication dispensing machines for personal use. Neal reportedly was confronted after concerns arose that she allegedly was noticed to be working while under the influence of drugs.
An investigation revealed Neal reportedly stole a total of about $2,500 worth of controlled medications from July 1, 2017 to June 13, 2018.
Online court documents say Neal has been charged with a Class D Felony for Stealing of a Controlled Substance or Meth Manufacturing Material. Bond has not yet been set.
Neal’s initial hearing is pending at Boone County Circuit Court.