Utica, NY — Utica police say a certified nursing assistant has been charged after a 92-year-old resident’s wedding rings were stolen from a local nursing home, sparking a criminal investigation and a state review of the facility’s safeguards.
According to police and court records, the Oct. 25, 2024 incident involved two gold rings valued at roughly $5,000 taken from the resident while she slept. Investigators allege the rings were removed by a staff member during an overnight shift and later pawned in nearby Rome. The items were recovered after a tip from a pawn shop employee who recognized them from a police alert.
Maria Gonzalez, 34, a CNA who had worked at the facility for about 18 months, was arrested on Oct. 27, 2024. She faces felony grand larceny in the third degree and related charges. She was released on $2,500 bail and has an arraignment scheduled for Nov. 5, according to court filings. Gonzalez has not entered a plea in the case.
Court documents identify the resident as Evelyn Marie Rossi. Her daughter, Laura Benson, reported the disappearance. “My mother’s rings were her last connection to Dad,” Benson said. “This isn’t just theft; it’s stealing her dignity.”
Security footage and a fast recovery
In an affidavit, Det. Sarah Kline of the Utica Police Department said hallway security video showed Gonzalez entering Rossi’s room at about 2:15 a.m. and leaving a few minutes later. Police say Gonzalez later pawned the rings for $800 the same morning at a shop in Rome, where staff alerted authorities after receiving a notice from police. The store cooperated with investigators and turned over the items.
“Elder thefts like this exploit the most vulnerable,” Kline said in a statement. “We recovered the rings quickly thanks to community tips, but we urge families to document valuables and consider storing heirlooms securely.”
Facility response and state review
Pine Crest Nursing Home, a non-profit operator in the Utica area, said the employee was immediately suspended and subsequently terminated. Administrator Mark Reilly said the facility is cooperating with police and conducting an internal audit of valuables protocols.
“We are devastated by this breach of trust,” Reilly said in a written statement. “We’re enhancing staff training on safeguarding personal property and expanding our valuables log procedures. Resident safety is our core mission.”
The New York State Department of Health is reviewing the facility’s compliance with resident protections, according to industry reports. The agency can cite facilities for failures to protect personal property under federal and state regulations.
Industry reports also indicate Gonzalez had been the subject of a prior internal inquiry months before the theft, involving a missing sum from another resident’s wallet. That matter did not result in charges, and remains disputed.
Part of a broader pattern
Advocates and researchers say theft in long-term care settings often goes unreported, particularly when residents have cognitive impairment. A 2023 study cited by geriatric specialists found incidents are frequently missed or discovered late, and staffing shortages can increase risk.
National and state regulations require nursing homes to protect residents’ property and promptly report suspected theft to authorities and health officials. In New York, suspected financial exploitation of elders must be reported under state law. While facilities commonly log and secure valuables, practices vary, and families are often urged to inventory items and consider storing irreplaceable heirlooms off-site.
“Theft in long-term care is widely underreported,” said Dr. Elena Vasquez, a geriatric specialist who has studied the issue. “Facilities need routine audits and better tracking to deter opportunistic incidents.”
What comes next
As the criminal case proceeds, Rossi’s family is weighing civil options, according to people familiar with the matter. Pine Crest’s internal review is ongoing, and the state health department could take enforcement action if regulators find lapses in policy or supervision.
The Utica Police Department asks anyone with information about similar incidents to contact investigators. Gonzalez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
