LEROY, NY — A Buffalo woman faces felony charges after police say she stole a wedding ring from an elderly nursing home resident suffering from dementia.
Erica Champagne Clark, 39, of Buffalo, was charged with grand larceny in the third degree and endangering the welfare of a physically disabled person in the first degree, both felonies.
Police say Clark stole the ring from the victim’s hand while working at a local healthcare facility.
The victim’s family reported the theft to police after noticing the ring was missing.
Detective Kaden Vangalio investigated the case for months, conducting interviews and checking databases.
Vangalio traveled to Buffalo and searched pawn shops for the stolen ring.
He located the ring at a Buffalo pawn shop and secured a bill of sale bearing Clark’s signature.
The ring was recovered and returned to the victim’s family.
Police say Clark avoided contact with investigators for months before turning herself in.
