Louisville, Ky – A suburban pharmacist employed by the drugstore chain Revco was arrested this week after investigators say she spent more than a year stealing prescription hormones from her workplace and secretly slipping them into her husband’s food to avoid his romantic advances.
Police identified the suspect as 39-year-old Laura Kessler, a licensed pharmacist who had worked at a Revco location in Jefferson County for nearly a decade. According to court records, Kessler admitted to siphoning off small quantities of estradiol and other hormone supplements from the pharmacy’s inventory, masking the thefts by falsifying supply records.
The unusual case came to light only after her husband, David Kessler, visited his doctor for a routine checkup last month. Physicians noted that the 42-year-old auto parts salesman had developed gynecomastia, the enlargement of breast tissue in men, and ordered a panel of hormone tests. Lab results showed abnormally high levels of estrogen, prompting doctors to ask whether he had been prescribed or self-medicating with female hormones.
“He was adamant that he hadn’t taken anything of the sort,” said Detective Carl Ramirez of the Louisville Metro Police Department’s property crimes unit, which is handling the case. “That’s when the suspicions turned toward the home environment.”
Search warrants executed at the Kessler residence uncovered dozens of opened pill bottles and vials, some labeled for disposal, traced back to the Revco where she worked. Investigators allege that Laura had been blending the hormones into smoothies and teas her husband regularly consumed.
In a statement to detectives, Kessler reportedly confessed that she felt overwhelmed by her spouse’s expectations for intimacy and saw the hormone dosing as a way to diminish his interest. “She described it as her solution to buy herself peace at home,” Ramirez said.
Revco officials confirmed Kessler’s suspension pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. “We take any diversion of medication extremely seriously,” a company spokesperson said Thursday. “The safety of patients and the integrity of our pharmacy operations are paramount.”
Neighbors expressed shock at the allegations. “They seemed like an ordinary couple,” said Shirley Daniels, who lives across the street. “You hear about fraud or theft, but not something like this. It is disturbing.”
Kessler faces charges including drug theft, tampering with records, and felonious assault. If convicted, she could face several years in state prison, fines of up to $10,000, and permanent revocation of her pharmacist license. Legal experts note that Kentucky law treats covert dosing as a serious crime, especially when it results in bodily harm.
David Kessler has since begun medical treatment to stabilize his hormone levels. His attorney issued a brief statement saying the family is focused on his recovery and on processing the deep betrayal of trust.
The case is scheduled for a preliminary hearing next month in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
Truth Bureau 