Woman charged with posing as therapist, nurse

PERKINS TWP. — A Sandusky woman is facing two felonies after she was reportedly caught practicing physical therapy without a license. Amanda M. Maynard-Murphy, 33, is facing two fifth-degree felony charges of taking the identity of another. Maynard-Murphy gained employment at a West Strub Road medical facility in 2023. She allegedly used the physical therapy license number of a different Amanda M. Maynard and the Social Security number of a third woman in order to pass the background check, according to Perkins police Detective Joseph Rotuno. The third woman lives in North Carolina and has a different name. Police are unsure how Maynard-Murphy obtained this Social Security number. The reported identity fraud was discovered when an investigator from the Ohio State Medical Board called the health care facility due to receiving a complaint about Maynard-Murphy, Rotuno said. When the medical board discovered that alleged identity fraud was involved, it advised officials from the health care facility to contact law enforcement. Perkins police were notified in December. After investigating the incident, police obtained a search warrant and executed it at Maynard-Murphy's Margaretta Township address in the 100 block of Fairview Ave. The search occurred on Jan. 17. During the search, conducted with cooperation from the Erie County Sheriff's Office, yielded several electronic devices and an ID badge for a skilled nursing facility in Ashland, Rotuno said. Maynard-Murphy was present during the search, and officers arrested her on the two felony charges. She was wearing hospital scrubs and had a stethoscope around her neck, according to Rotuno. She pleaded not guilty in Sandusky Municipal Court. Other facilities involved During the investigation, detectives determined Maynard-Murphy had also worked at a Hull Road medical facility, according to Rotuno. Maynard-Murphy reportedly worked at that facility for 20 days as a licensed practical nurse. It is unknown how many people she may have provided care to while employed there. She assisted about a dozen patients while working as a physical therapist, Rotuno said. Police confirmed on Friday that Maynard-Murphy allegedly conducted similar activity at facilities in Green Springs and Fremont. Rotuno said search warrants were obtained for the electronic devices and sent them to an outside agency to examine their contents. Police also confirmed that Maynard-Murphy had worked for the Ashland facility that she had an ID badge for. Maynard-Murphy faced criminal charges in a recent run-in with law enforcement: • On Sept. 28, she was charged with inducing panic and attempted theft after conducting a hoax hostage situation so she could get money from a Tiffin Avenue business. The inducing panic charge was dismissed in exchange for her pleading guilty to an amended charge of theft by deception. She was ordered to pay a $200 fine and received a 90-day suspended jail sentence. Perkins police urged anyone who believes they were treated by Maynard-Murphy at either of the Perkins Township medical facilities or if they know of any other facilities she may have worked at, to call them at 419-627-0824, ext. 5.