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| 67-year-old Theresa Salerno / PCSO |
Staff Reporter | iSkyNews.com (ISC News)
Published September 23rd, 2025
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Lakeland, FL – Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) arrested a Lake Gibson High School employee Monday after an investigation revealed she stole prescription medication belonging to a student.
On September 22, 2025, deputies arrested 67-year-old Theresa Salerno at the school following a report of missing medication days earlier.
The investigation began on September 18, when administrators reported that a student’s prescription medication had gone missing. According to the school principal, the child’s mother had brought in a bottle containing 30 pills that morning. The pills were counted in the presence of the school nurse before the bottle was placed on Salerno’s desk. Later that day, the nurse discovered the bottle was short nine pills.
Detectives reviewed school surveillance footage and observed Salerno picking up the bottle and leaving the camera’s view. When she returned, she placed the bottle back on the desk, appearing to hold something in her other hand.
Attempts to contact Salerno were unsuccessful as she had left for a scheduled vacation. Upon her return to work on September 22, she admitted to removing the pills. Salerno told investigators she intended to “look up the medication” to confirm they were the correct type.
Salerno was arrested on campus and charged with Grand Theft of a Controlled Substance (F3).
Sheriff Grady Judd condemned the incident, stating:
“This woman stole medication that was prescribed to a child. There is absolutely no excuse for that. We expect school employees to protect children, not steal from them. She knew better, and now she’ll be held accountable.”
Officials advised that questions about Salerno’s employment status should be directed to Polk County Public Schools.
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