A Florida-based housekeeper, Heather Nelson, 29, was recently apprehended by law enforcement after an altercation on Christmas Eve led to accusations of theft and assault. Nelson, who was responsible for the upkeep of an 83-year-old woman’s home, faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated battery, robbery, forgery, fraud, passing a counterfeit instrument, and grand theft, as per Brevard County court records. She is also facing a single misdemeanor fraud charge.
The incident reportedly began when the elderly woman was unable to provide Nelson with a $500 Christmas bonus she had requested. Following the refusal, Nelson allegedly stole a larger amount of money, leaving the elderly woman with a swollen wrist, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
Nelson is accused of forcibly taking a check, Christmas cards containing money, and several debit and credit cards. She then allegedly left the residence, forged signatures, and attempted to steal a substantial amount of money from the elderly woman, according to Tod Goodyear, the sheriff’s office’s public information officer.
The allegations against Nelson extend beyond the theft of the checkbook. Investigators claim that she used the stolen funds to pay her overdue rent, writing a check for $1,400, a sum significantly larger than the requested bonus. Goodyear suggested that Nelson’s actions might have been driven by financial difficulties.
Nelson was arrested nearly two weeks after the incident. The delay was due to the time needed to trace her alleged financial misconduct. Deputies followed the money trail after the allegedly forged check cleared and credit card transactions were posted, leading to Nelson’s arrest on January 7.
The sheriff’s office issued a press release condemning Nelson’s actions, comparing her to the Grinch, a character from Dr. Seuss known for stealing Christmas. The release detailed the incident, expressing outrage at Nelson’s alleged actions and the harm caused to the elderly victim.
Authorities noted that the housekeeper was a trusted, long-term employee. Goodyear highlighted the vulnerability of the elderly, who are often scammed or taken advantage of due to their trusting nature or diminished capacity. Nelson was initially held on a $30,000 bond and was released on January 9, according to Brevard County Jail records.