Housekeeper Busted for Pawning Dead Woman's $20K Ring
Ruth Ann Roberston's mugshot, photo courtesy of Flagler County Sherriff Department. Public domain.
A Florida housekeeper's attempt to keep a "memento" from her deceased client spawned a criminal investigation after she used an alias to pawn a $20,000 diamond ring. Tracking a fake identity and a trail of deceit, authorities unraveled the shocking scheme, leading to serious charges. Here's how the story unfolded.
A Memento That Spawned a Crime
The case began when a grieving husband discovered that his deceased wife's diamond ring was missing shortly after her passing. The man, who had been married to his wife for 53 years, contacted the Bunnell Police Department on Feb. 14, 2024, suspecting the ring had been stolen. Although he initially valued the ring at $40,000, a professional appraiser later placed its value at $20,000.
The Search for the Missing Ring
Authorities got involved after the man and his family members conducted a thorough search of their home but failed to locate the valuable piece of jewelry. During the investigation, detectives reviewed bodycam footage from the responding officers who were present at the scene when the man's wife was found unresponsive on Oct. 28, 2023. With no evidence of the officers having contact with the ring, the police began to explore other possibilities.
Alias and Pawn Shop Records Lead to Breakthrough
While speaking to detectives, the husband revealed that they had a housekeeper at the time of his wife's death. He knew her as Ruth Ann Brown. However, investigators later discovered that the housekeeper's true identity was Ruth Ann Robertson. With this new information, detectives searched pawn shop records under both names. They soon found that Robertson had an extensive pawn transaction history, particularly at Cash-It-In Pawn in Bunnell, where she had pawned the missing ring using her real identity.
After being confronted with the evidence, Robertson confessed that she took the ring because she was struggling financially. To clear her pawn debt and turn a quick profit, Robertson enlisted the help of a friend from Bradenton on Nov. 20, 2023. The friend came to Bunnell, paid off the $300 pawn note on the stolen ring along with another one she had pawned, and then paid Robertson an additional $900 to keep the stolen ring.
Facing Serious Consequences
Robertson is now facing felony charges for grand theft and dealing in stolen property. She was arrested and released on a $25,000 bond while her legal case continues to progress. Detectives contacted her friend in Bradenton, who cooperated by turning over the stolen ring, which was then safely returned to the deceased woman's husband. This case highlights the disturbing reality of criminals hiding in plain sight, who prey on those in mourning, exploiting their grief for personal gain at a time when they are most vulnerable.
References: Housekeeper pawned dead client's $20,000 ring she took as memento, Florida cops say | Bunnell housekeeper accused of stealing, pawning dead woman's $20,000 ring
