Batesville, AR – A former director of nursing at The Springs of Batesville Nursing Home has been charged with 32 felony counts of controlled substance-fraudulent practices and one count of breaking or entering after allegedly stealing hundreds of prescription pain medications from residents over several months.
Carla Renee Shaw, 51, waived formal arraignment and entered a not guilty plea in Independence County Circuit Court. She remains free on a $10,000 bond pending her next court appearance.
The investigation began December 30, 2025, when nursing home administration contacted the Batesville Police Department to report suspected theft of narcotics. An internal audit, prompted by an employee concern about improper medication handling, revealed that the facility’s required two-step signature verification process had not been followed consistently.
According to the probable cause affidavit, approximately 757 prescription pills were unaccounted for, including powerful controlled substances such as tramadol, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine. The missing medications were traced to 25 different residents across 32 documented incidents occurring between April 28 and December 17, 2025.
Facility administrator Mincie Carson told investigators she believed Shaw was responsible, citing her role as director of nursing—which gave her direct access to medications—and her signature appearing on all related documentation for the missing pills.
On January 5, 2026, Shaw voluntarily met with detectives at the Batesville Police Department. After being advised of her Miranda rights, she reportedly admitted to an addiction to pain pills and confirmed she had been terminated from her position (which she held since March 2025) for stealing narcotics from the facility.
In her statement, Shaw described the method: she would sign for medications dispensed by nurses under her supervision, place them in a filing cabinet in her office, and later retrieve and consume them—either at work or by taking them home. She told investigators she could not recall the exact number of times she committed these acts.
The charges—32 counts of controlled substance-fraudulent practices and one count of breaking or entering—are both Class D felonies in Arkansas.
The Springs of Batesville Nursing Home, located at 175 White Dr., has not released additional public statements beyond cooperating with law enforcement. The case remains under investigation by the Batesville Police Department.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Batesville Police Department.
(Information based on court documents, the probable cause affidavit, and reports from KAIT as of January 13, 2026. All charges are allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Details subject to updates as the case proceeds.)
