Sheriff: Ex-employee told Alexian Brothers Hospital patients they needed 'frontal lobotomy'

August 22, 2012 (ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill.) (WLS) -- A woman allegedly stole files from a mental health clinic and sent letters to patients saying they would need to undergo a ''frontal lobotomy.''

A former employee at Alexian Brothers Behavior Health Hospital, Michelle Morrison, 52, allegedly stole those files from the Hoffman Estates facility and used private information on patients to embarrass hospital administrators.

"The defendant was terminated from her employment at Alexian Brothers and took it upon herself to attempt to embarrass the corporation. People get upset but this is crossing all lines that we have ever seen before," Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said.

Morrison allegedly sent three letters on Alexian Brothers Hospital stationary threatening to expose mental illness to employers and using intimate, confidential information to scare patients. She was charged Wednesday with three counts of felony forgery.

"In those letters, she told those patients that their electro shock treatments were insufficient and they would need a frontal lobotomy," Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Maria McCarthy said.

Cook County sheriff's police allegedly found Alexian Brothers Hospital stationary and the confidential information of more than 30 patients at Morrison's Elk Grove Village apartment.

"This was very calculated in what happened. And how anyone can think this would not horrifically hurt someone, I can't imagine how they could think like that," Sheriff Dart said.

Bond was set at $25,000 for Morrison.

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