SANTA MONICA : Heiress’s Nurse Pleads Not Guilty to Theft Charges

Doris Duke’s deathbed nurse pleaded not guilty Thursday in Santa Monica Municipal Court to charges she stole nearly $450,000 worth of jewelry, artwork and other items from six patients, including Duke and cosmetics figure Max Factor.

Tammy Payette, 28, was ordered held in lieu of $1-million bail on the six felony grand theft charges pending a bail reduction hearing scheduled next week.

Payette gained prominence in January when she alleged that the 80-year-old Duke, a billionaire tobacco heiress, was killed with overdoses of morphine in her Benedict Canyon home. Duke’s former doctor called the allegation absurd, but the circumstances of Duke’s 1993 death remain under investigation by Los Angeles police.

Payette is accused of taking valuables from Duke and five patients she treated in Westside homes from 1993 until early this year. Detectives said they have recovered many of the items and returned them to the owners, but that other items had been sold through Beverly Hills jewelry stores, including Duke’s prized pearl necklace.