A housekeeper in Florida was arrested after an argument with her elderly employer on Christmas Eve turned into theft and violence, according to police.
Heather Nelson, 29, is facing multiple serious charges, including robbery, aggravated assault, forgery, fraud, and grand theft, as reported by authorities in Brevard County. She’s also facing a lesser fraud charge... Continue reading here ▶
The conflict started when the 83-year-old employer couldn’t give Nelson a $500 Christmas bonus she had asked for. After being denied, Nelson allegedly stole much more — including cash, checks, and credit cards — and left the elderly woman with a swollen wrist.
Police say Nelson forced the victim to hand over a checkbook, stole Christmas cards with cash inside, and used the stolen money to pay $1,400 in rent, much more than the $500 bonus she originally wanted.
“It looks like she was in financial trouble,” said Brevard County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tod Goodyear. “But taking advantage of an elderly person is not the solution.”
Authorities arrested Nelson nearly two weeks later after following the trail of financial transactions from the stolen checks and cards. She was caught on January 7.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office criticized Nelson’s actions, comparing her to the Grinch. They accused her of ruining not only her employer’s Christmas but also the holiday for others by stealing their gifts. “Unlike the Grinch story, this one doesn’t end with joy and forgiveness,” the statement read.
Nelson, who had been a trusted employee for a long time, was held on a $30,000 bond but was released from jail on January 9.
“The elderly are often taken advantage of because they trust others easily,” Goodyear explained.
