OAKDALE, Minn. (FOX 9) – A housekeeper at The Waters of Oakdale senior living facility has been fired and charged with a felony after being caught on a hidden camera stealing from a resident.
The incident began in early November when Sandi Gudahl, a resident at the facility, noticed about $700 missing from her apartment. Suspecting a housekeeper, her son, Boyd Gudahl, decided to install a hidden camera disguised as a phone charger in his mother’s bedroom. To further confirm his suspicions, Boyd placed a purse filled with movie prop cash in the room.
Upon reviewing the footage, Boyd discovered that a housekeeper, 59-year-old Kathleen Shepard of Oakdale, entered his mother’s apartment, searched through the purse and another bag in a nightstand, and took $50 in fake cash.
The video was shared with Oakdale police, who launched an investigation. According to court documents, Shepard admitted to the theft and blamed it on her gambling addiction. She now faces a second-degree burglary charge, a felony that could carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Sandi Gudahl, 80, questioned the housekeeper’s motivations, asking, “Did she think that I might have needed that money?” Her son expressed his desire for Shepard to be held accountable, saying, “Ten years in prison, $20,000 fine. I hope she gets the maximum.”
In response, The Waters of Oakdale released a statement, expressing sadness over the incident. “Immediately upon learning of this, we partnered with law enforcement and conducted a thorough investigation. The employee was then terminated.”
When contacted, Kathleen Shepard declined to comment on the matter.
