Elderly Woman Accused Of Stocking Up On Painkillers

Fayette County sheriff’s detectives got a tip that a 70-year-old woman was “doctor shopping” -- going to several doctors in the area getting prescriptions for painkillers. Authorities also said the woman has a long history with drugs and poisonings.

Patricia Radcliffe Taylor has a well documented criminal past. An A&E documentary chronicled her cases. Twice she was charged and convicted of aggravated assault for poisoning two elderly couples. She spent a total of 15 years in prison.

Now, at 70-years-old, she faces more time behind bars.

VIDEO: Elderly Woman Accused Of Obtaining 3,700 Painkillers

"She's just obtaining an astronomical amount of prescription drugs from various doctors in the area," said Lt. Jody Thomas with the Fayette County Sheriff's Office.

Fayette County sheriff’s detectives say Taylor would go to several doctor’s offices in the area asking for the prescription painkiller, Hydrocodone -- a total of 3,700 pills in the last year.

"Normally drugs at that level we would investigate somebody that they were possibly distributing them but at this point there's no indication she was doing anything other than using them herself," said Thomas.

Channel 2's John Bachman knocked on the door of her Fayetteville home but she didn’t answer the door. She did answer the phone when Channel 2 called and told Bachman her attorney advised her not to say anything and then she hung up.

At this point, detectives said they do not suspect this case is at all related to her past cases of poisoning and they do not think the doctors involved did anything wrong.

"Other than to be taken in by what appears to be a sweet, little old lady,” said Thomas.

Taylor faces three felony charges for unauthorized distribution of controlled substances.