AMARILLO, Texas — A Potter County grand jury has indicted a licensed vocational nurse on charges of stealing controlled substances intended for elderly patients at a local skilled nursing facility, according to multiple news reports from the Amarillo area.
Kimberly Ann Echevarria, 41, faces one count of diversion of a controlled substance, a state jail felony, after residents at Heritage Skilled Nursing and Rehab in Amarillo reported not receiving their pain medications from a night-shift nurse in May 2025, as reported by NewsChannel 10 (KFDA) and ABC 7 Amarillo (KVII).
How the Scheme Unraveled
The investigation began on May 24, 2025, when patients at the facility started complaining to administrators that they were not receiving their prescribed pain medications during the overnight shift, according to court documents obtained by NewsChannel 10. The complaints prompted facility administrators to launch an internal audit beginning May 26, which revealed that the facility's pill counts did not match dispensing records.
Administrators then reviewed surveillance footage, which allegedly showed Echevarria removing pills from a locked medication cart, transferring them between her hands, and placing them in her mouth, according to ABC 7 Amarillo. The narcotics were kept in a locked drawer on the cart that could only be opened with a single dedicated key, according to the court documents.
When Amarillo Police Department officers confronted Echevarria, she initially denied taking any medication even after being told it had been captured on video, according to NewsChannel 10. She reportedly told officers she would not admit to anything unless she could see the footage herself. During a subsequent interview, however, she acknowledged consuming pills on what she described as "two or three occasions," attributing her actions to stress and depression and claiming the pills were Tylenol with codeine, as reported by ABC 7 Amarillo.
A urine test administered to Echevarria revealed the presence of 11 substances, according to court documents: THC, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, buprenorphine, methadone, MDMA, oxycodone, phencyclidine, propoxyphene, cocaine, methamphetamine, and amphetamine. Officers who searched her bag with consent also discovered two narcotics administration sheets belonging to patients — documents that facility administrators said she was not authorized to possess.
The internal investigation additionally found a pattern of pills documented as "wasted" or "dropped" by Echevarria during her shifts, according to NewsChannel 10. While Echevarria admitted to taking pills for personal use, she insisted she took only four pills per day — far fewer than the 17 pills per day that administrators calculated were unaccounted for.
A criminal complaint was filed in July 2025. Echevarria was arrested and booked into the Potter County Detention Center before being released on $3,500 bond, according to NewsChannel 10. If convicted, she faces up to two years in a state jail facility. The Texas Board of Nursing has filed formal charges against her license, though those charges have not yet been adjudicated, according to licensing records.
Under Texas law, diversion of a controlled substance occurs when a medical professional intercepts a controlled substance through their profession or place of employment for purposes other than medical necessity. Nurses facing narcotic diversion allegations may be subject to both criminal penalties and professional sanctions, including possible revocation of their nursing license by the Texas Board of Nursing.
CMS Inspection History
Federal inspection records maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services paint a broader picture of oversight challenges at Heritage Skilled Nursing and Rehab. The facility, which operates 197 beds under government hospital district ownership, holds an overall CMS rating of just 2 out of 5 stars. Its health inspection rating stands at the lowest possible score of 1 out of 5 stars, while staffing earns a middling 3 out of 5 and quality measures score a 5 out of 5.
CMS records show 44 total deficiencies documented across 23 inspections. The most recent inspection, conducted in October 2025, resulted in a serious deficiency rated at Severity Level J — indicating immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety — for failing to ensure the nursing home area was free from accident hazards and that adequate supervision was provided to prevent accidents. A Severity J citation is among the most serious findings CMS can issue and typically requires immediate corrective action.
Earlier inspections also revealed recurring issues. In February 2025, inspectors cited the facility for inadequate pest control measures. During an August 2024 inspection, the facility received two deficiencies: one for food procurement and safety standards and another repeat citation for pest control failures at a more serious severity level. A July 2024 inspection documented a violation related to residents' rights to dignified existence and self-determination.
The facility's 1-star health inspection rating, combined with a pattern of recurring deficiencies across multiple inspection cycles, suggests persistent challenges in maintaining compliance with federal nursing home regulations — a context that is particularly relevant given the alleged medication diversion scheme that went undetected until patients themselves raised concerns.
Ownership & Operations
Heritage Skilled Nursing and Rehab operates under government hospital district ownership, according to CMS records. Government-operated facilities are subject to the same federal inspection and compliance requirements as privately owned nursing homes. The facility's 197-bed capacity makes it a mid-to-large-sized skilled nursing operation in the Amarillo area.
Resources for Families
Families who have concerns about the care of a loved one in a Texas nursing home can contact the following resources:
- Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: 1-800-252-2412 — Ombudsmen advocate for residents and can investigate complaints about care quality, medication management, and resident rights. - National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center: 1-800-677-1116 - Online resources: [ltcombudsman.org](https://ltcombudsman.org)
Suspected medication diversion or drug theft in a healthcare setting can also be reported to local law enforcement and the Texas Board of Nursing, which oversees licensing and disciplinary actions for nurses practicing in the state. Family members who believe their loved one has been harmed by missed or diverted medications should document their concerns and request a copy of the resident's medication administration records.