Palmetto nurse charged with stealing ring from elderly woman with dementia

PALMETTO -- A nurse who was taking care of an elderly woman with dementia stole the woman's engagement ring and pawned it, according to the Palmetto Police Department.

Kimberly Burney, 44, was taking care of the elderly woman who resides at Manatee River Assisted Living at 820 Fifth St. W., according to an arrest report. The victim's husband left her Friday night at 9 p.m. and returned Saturday at 7 a.m.

The husband told police that he had seen his wife's engagement ring on her finger Friday night but it was missing Saturday morning. He said his wife has arthritis, which means her fingers swell and the ring is difficult to get off.

Pawn records showed that Burney pawned the ring on Saturday at 101 Fifth Ave. Drive E. in Bradenton. The man positively identified the ring as his wife's.

Burney was questioned at the Palmetto Police Department and said she did not pawn any items in the past month. When police asked about the pawn records concerning the ring, Burney did not have an explanation.

She said she did not pick up any jewelry at work and that she was done talking.

Burney was arrested on Monday and charged with theft of the ring, which is valued at $2,000. She was released from the Manatee County jail on Tuesday on $1,500 bond.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 8:02 AM with the headline "Palmetto nurse charged with stealing ring from elderly woman with dementia ."