St. Pete Nursing Home Worker Arrested for Stealing Residents' Jewelry

On Monday, Nov. 24, the St. Petersburg Police Department received a call from an elderly resident of Allegro Nursing Facility who told officials someone had pried her diamond ring off her finger while she slept.

While investigating the incident, officers determined several other residents also had their jewelry stolen while they slept. The total estimated loss of jewelry is valued at over $21,000, according to the police department.

The investigation led to an Allegro Nursing Facility employee who had been working for three weeks as a medical technician and assisting residents with daily activities. She had reportedly been pawning jewelry since Nov. 18.

Keona S. Stephens, 22, of St. Petersburg, admitted to taking and pawning the stolen jewelry. She was arrested and charged with four counts of theft from a person 65 years of age or older and one count of grand theft.

Image: Keona S. Stephens. Courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.