Two senior center employees in Hall County are accused of taking opioids from patients — one of whom is now dead, authorities said.

Maxey Lee McGill, 39, and Lewonia Sue Defevers, 45, both of Gainesville, were arrested Thursday when officers executed a search warrant at Ashton Senior Living facility on Enota Avenue, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

McGill was found in possession of hydrocodone and a vial of morphine, which belonged to two patients at the facility, the release said. Fentanyl patches were also allegedly found in his vehicle.

Defevers allegedly possessed a vial of morphine that belonged to a former patient at the facility who has since died, the release said. It’s unclear whether the alleged morphine theft is connected to the patient’s death.

Defevers faces a charge of possession of morphine, and McGill faces charges of possession of fentanyl and two counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance.

The Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad has been investigating the incident since December 2018, and the investigation is ongoing. No further arrests are expected.

Both McGill and Defevers were booked into the Hall County Jail, the release said.

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Authorities said the gang members are part of the???€œ1831 Piru" gang, which is affliated with the Bloods.??

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A native of Columbus and a fine arts graduate of Clark Atlanta, Amy Sherald was chosen as the official portrait artist of former first lady Michelle Obama. On the same week that the portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, it was also announced that Sherald was awarded the High Museum's 2018 David C. Driskell Prize. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Credit: Andrew Harnik