A disgruntled former hospital worker was charged Wednesday with forgery for stealing mental health patients' files and using the information to harass them, authorities said.
Police said Michelle Morrison, 52, of Elk Grove Village admitted in a written statement to Cook County Sheriff's detectives that she stole copies of files from the Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates.
Morrison also admitted to stealing blank letterheads and mailing labels and sending six fraudulent letters to fomer patients between Feb. 5, 2011, and June 25, 2012, police said. The letters contained "vulgar comments, references to confidential medical information and psychiatric treatment received by these patients," police said.
The letters also included threats of exposing their mental treatment to friends, family and coworkers, police said. Morrison told police she wanted to embarrass the Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital for firing her.
Police said Morrison worked at the hospital from 2005 to 2010 as a senior account representative. An internal investigation at the hospital identified her as the offender.
Morrison was arrested Wednesday at her home and ordered held on $25,000 bond.
