Nursing Home Worker Admits Stealing Resident’s Wedding Ring

RED WING, Minn. (AP) — A Red Wing nursing home assistant has admitted to stealing a resident's wedding ring and pawning it.

Twenty-four-year-old Erin Russell tells the Star Tribune she hopes prosecutors will reduce the felony theft charge against her to a misdemeanor. A criminal complaint says the $4,000 ring belonged to Alice Tackaberry who was in hospice care at the St. Brigid's at Hi-Park home last July. Her niece noticed the ring was missing and went to authorities.

Police found the ring at the Red Wing Pawn Shop and say Russell sold the ring during a lunch break at the nursing home. Russell was fired. Tackaberry died shortly after her ring was taken.

A settlement conference is scheduled for next week in Goodhue County District Court.