Manhunt: Florida nursing assistant Dian’te Matthew stole and pawned 91-year-old’s wedding ring
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Florida, working at the Arbor Terrace Assisted Living Facility, has been accused of stealing wedding rings and pawning them off, including one from a 91-year-old woman.
Dian’te Matthew, 24, reportedly stole the ring from his victim between June 10 and June 14 at the assisted living facility on Sheldon Rd., which is on the west side of Tampa, and pawned the ring on June 14 at Mr. Money Pawn.
Matthew is facing charges of grand theft, defrauding a pawnbroker and exploiting an elderly person.
Police have been working with the pawn broker, returning the band and a second to their owners. Authorities also add that a third victim, Marilyn Bartholomew, 92, is likley. Marilyn is battling Alzheimer’s but recalls the missing ring.
“It leads me to think that perhaps that’s what happened to my mom’s ring also, but I can’t say for sure,” said Becky Belanger, Bartholomew’s daughter, who noticed earlier this month her 92-year-old mother’s wedding band was gone. “I tore the room apart. I looked everywhere.”
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says Matthew likely stole the ring from Marylin’s room at Arbor Terrace Assisted Living.
Arbor Terrace says they are taking the thefts very seriously and all employees go through a background check.
“The safety and security of our residents is of the greatest importance and we take situations like this very seriously. We conduct a Level 2 background check on every employee and that information is shared with the Agency for Healthcare Administration, which regulates our communities… At this point, this is a law enforcement matter and questions should be directed to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.”
The Sheriff’s office says Matthew was fired last week when he didn’t show up to work.
Marilyn’s ring has some distinctive features including a horseshoe spring and an inscription with the wedding date, 7-1-73. It also might have the couple’s names, John and Marilyn.
“It’s her wedding band and it has an inscription in it and she misses it. She has a lot of memory issues, but she does realize that that ring that she has had for so many years is gone,” her daughter explained.
NOTE: Some reports list Dian’te Matthew as Diante Matthew, but a source with the police claim that is what is listed on the man’s ID.
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