EDGECOMBE COUNTY, N.C. -- A hospice nurse is behind bars after authorities in Edgecombe County say she stole more than $13,000 from an elderly couple she was hired to assist.

• Nekeya Denise Jenkins has been arrested for stealing from an elderly couple she was supposed to have been taking care of.
• She stole more than $13,000 from the couple.
• One of her victims has since died from medical issues. 

Nekeya Denise Jenkins, 36, began working for the couple on May 26. According to police, she visited the pair six or seven times before she stole personal checks and their debit cards.

In less than a month, Jenkins spent a total of $13,596.28 of the couple’s money. 

Since this time, one of the victims has died from medical issues. 

Jenkins has been charged with two counts of financial card fraud and obtaining property by false pretenses and one count each of exploiting the elderly, identity theft and larceny by an employee.

Jenkins was taken to the Edgecombe County Detention Center with a $40,000.00 secured bond.