Franklin, IN – A nurse at a senior care facility in Franklin has been arrested after authorities say she replaced a resident’s prescribed pain medication with allergy medication on multiple occasions. The investigation revealed that the alleged substitutions occurred more than 60 times and involved controlled substances.
Incident Overview
The nurse, 47-year-old Kori Babb of Columbus, has been charged in Johnson County with:
- One count of interference with medical services as a licensed health care provider, a Level 5 felony
- One count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit, a Level 6 felony
- One count of failure to make, keep, or furnish records, a Level 6 felony
Court documents indicate that Babb primarily worked overnight shifts at the senior facility in Franklin, giving her access to the facility’s medication cart (Med Cart), where controlled substances such as oxycodone were stored.
Investigation and Timeline
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Indiana Office of the Attorney General began investigating Babb in March 2025 after a resident reported that she believed Babb had been giving her allergy pills instead of her prescribed oxycodone.
Federal and state regulations require healthcare providers to maintain complete and accurate records when administering controlled substances. Each withdrawal of oxycodone requires a narcotic count sheet, signed and dated by the nurse, and every administration must be recorded electronically, noting the date, time, and medication type.
Details from the Resident
The resident told investigators that she had been hiding and spitting out pills Babb allegedly gave her. The medication was later identified as Lorazepam, which the resident had not been prescribed in 2025.
Court documents show that Babb allegedly withdrew oxycodone 64 times without properly recording what she did with the medication. Officials also noted at least one additional instance where she failed to chart the administration of oxycodone correctly for another resident.
Statements and Investigation Findings
In an interview with investigators, Babb reportedly walked through her process of obtaining and administering oxycodone. She claimed she was careful to charge for the administration of medications and could not explain why she failed to chart the 64 instances.
“She stated that she would never swap out oxycodone for another medication and did not know why the patient would make the allegation,” the court documents read.
Babb was suspended pending the investigation in March 2025, and her case is ongoing.
Bond and Court Proceedings
Officials set Babb’s bond at $15,000 cash, which she posted on Tuesday. The case remains under investigation, with potential further charges as authorities review all medication administration records and compliance with state regulations.
Safety and Awareness
Authorities stress the importance of proper medication administration and accurate recordkeeping in senior care facilities. Residents and families are urged to monitor care closely and report any irregularities or concerns regarding prescription medications to facility management or law enforcement.
Conclusion
The arrest of Kori Babb underscores the critical need for strict oversight in medication administration at senior care facilities. Investigators continue to review the extent of the alleged misconduct to ensure accountability and the safety of residents.
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