DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla.,None — Police say the entire time a caregiver was looking after an elderly woman, the caregiver was stealing from her. They say it's not the first time the suspect has done this.
The victim, a 78-year-old Daytona Beach Shores woman, said she wants to help expose the woman who took her most prized family heirlooms while caring for her.
"This is an animal. This is an evil person," said the woman.
The person she referred to is 51-year-old Loretta Bohannon, who appeared in court Thursday.
Bohannon is accused of stealing the woman's necklace, earrings, gold coins and a family charm bracelet during the worst time of the victim's life.
"I cry because this is the time my husband died, and this is what this woman did to me," the victim said.
Police say Bohannon, while caring for the victim, stole $5,000 in jewelry that cannot be replaced. They say most of the jewelry has been pawned and melted down.
"She'll never get it back. It's just, it's priceless. It's just a horrible crime," said Daytona Beach Shores Public Safety Director Stephan Dembinsky.
Bohannon went to prison in 2004 for stealing from homes she cleaned in Seminole County.
Police believe she may have more than one victim because while working for a company as a caregiver, Bohannon was going to different homes every day.
WFTV learned that the company she worked for didn't check to see that she was arrested for this once before. The company that hired Bohannon did issue a statement saying this was a mistake in management and the company is now checking employees' backgrounds.
Bohannon is in jail on $10,000 bond. It's uncertain when she'll get out.
"She deserves to go to jail for, not a week or two weeks, she deserves to go for 25 years," said the victim.
Police are asking for anyone else who believes they might be a victim to please contact the Daytona Beach Shores Public Safety Department.