Risk - Case Studies
Case studies show that routine background checks are the first step in preventing serious incidents.
Shannon Nicole Womack
Multi-State Fake Nurse (2025)
Womack, 39, operated a year-long scheme posing as an LPN, RN and even a nurse supervisor across multiple states (PA, GA, TN, NJ, IN). She used over 10 aliases and seven social security numbers to gain short-term roles. While doing this, she stole prescription medications from patients.
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Gina Hernandez & Elsa Vasquez
Texas Senior Facility Impersonators (2025)
Hernandez, 20, and Vasquez, 30, posed as nurses offering "health exams" to eldering residents at a senior living facility in TX. During these exams they stole wallets and used victims' bank cards for purchases. Neither of them held a valid Texas nursing license.
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Amanda Leeann Porter
California Hospital Impostor (2024)
Porter, 44, impersonated a registered nurse, caring for about 60 patients at two different California hospitals. Using multiple false identities, Porter gained employment despite being on federal probation for a similar nurse impersonation case in Virginia.
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Heather Irene Pressdee
Pennsylvania Killer Nurse (2022–2023)
Pressdee was a licensed nurse who intentionally administered lethal insulin doses to residents in five nursing homes in PA. This resulted in at least three confirmed deaths and connections to up to 17 deaths.
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Cassandra Alvera Gilleylen
Michigan Multi-Facility Fake Nurse (2023–2024)
Gilleylen, 52, worked as a registered nurse without any valid RN license at three facilities in MI for over six months. She repeatedly used a different last name to hide her identity.
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Case | Location/Period | Issue | Outcome | Key System Failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Shannon Nicole Womack | PA, GA, TN, NJ, IN (2025) | Used 10+ aliases, 20 false IDs, and 7 SSNs to pose as nurse in multiple states; stole prescription meds | Arrested; charged with identity theft, forgery, patient endangerment; warrants in multiple states | Poor cross-state credential verification; reliance on falsified documents |
Gina Hernandez & Elsa Vasquez | Buda, TX (2025) | Posed as nurses at senior facility; stole wallets and used bank cards | Arrested; felony theft, elderly exploitation, credit card abuse, impersonation charges | No ID or license verification before contact with residents |
Amanda Leeann Porter | CA (2024) | Impersonated RN at two hospitals, treated ~60 patients; used multiple false identities; prior federal probation for similar offense | Arrested; charged with identity theft, impersonation, grand theft; pleaded not guilty | Lack of cross-facility/statewide alerts; failed credential validation |
Heather Irene Pressdee | Western PA (2022–2023) | Licensed nurse murdered patients via lethal insulin doses in 5 nursing homes | Pleaded guilty; sentenced to 3 life terms + 380–760 years in prison | Repeated suspicious deaths not flagged; inadequate medication oversight |
Cassandra Alvera Gilleylen | Oakland County, MI (2023–2024 | Worked as RN without license at 3 facilities; used alias to conceal identity | Facing 30 counts unauthorized practice + 3 counts identity theft; bond set at $75k | Failure to verify licenses with state registry; no inter-facility communication on aliases |