Ex-caregiver skips out on sentencing in ring theft
Arrest warrant issued for Arvada woman, 22
By Keith Coffman , Special to the Rocky
Published January 25, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
Photo by George Kochaniec Jr. © The Rocky
Russell Mayer and his daughter C. J. Griffin leave court after Ebony Butler failed to show for court sentencing in Jefferson County Court. Butler stole a $4,000 diamond and emerald wedding ring from 80 year-old Jean Mayer, an Alzheimer's patient in a nursing home. An arrest warrant was issued for Butler.
A former caregiver who pleaded guilty to stealing a diamond ring off an Alzheimer's patient failed to show up for sentencing Thursday, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Jefferson County District Judge Jack Berryhill issued the bench warrant and set a $10,000 cash-only bond for Ebony Butler, who was charged last May with theft for stealing the ring off the finger of 80-year-old Jean Mayer, who suffered from late-stage Alzheimer's disease and a brain tumor.
Jean Mayer's husband, Russell, noticed the ring was missing when he came to visit his ailing wife at the Spring Ridge Park assisted-living center in Wheat Ridge.
A search of the home failed to turn up the ring, a gift from Russell Mayer to Jean on their 25th wedding anniversary.
Butler, 22, of Arvada, was a caregiver at the facility, and police were led to her after receiving an anonymous tip that Butler was boasting about pawning the ring for $500.
Police recovered the ring at a Lakewood pawnshop, but Jean Mayer died 10 days after the ring was found, and was unaware the ring - which she had worn for 35 years - was returned, according to her daughter, C.J. Griffin.
Butler, who was free on bond, pleaded guilty in September to theft and providing false information to a pawnbroker, both felonies.
Russell Mayer, 84, said it never occurred to him to remove his wife's ring before she went to Spring Ridge.
"It was part of her," he said. "She wore it every day."
Griffin said the ring was one of the few things her mother could take with her when she was moved on June 14, 2006, from the Wheat Ridge home where she had lived for so many years.
But the move was necessary because Russell Mayer, who had served as his wife's caregiver, was going into the hospital for triple-bypass surgery three days later.
"You feel guilty about putting your loved one in a center like this," Griffin said. "First, you're moving her out of her home that she had been in since 1961. Everything familiar to her, you are taking away from her. Then we took Dad from her because we had to put him in the hospital."
Russell Mayer, who was planning to speak at the sentencing, said he felt "great, great disappointment" that Butler has prolonged his family's grief. "We just wanted to get this over," he said.
Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey said his office will decide whether to file additional charges against Butler, including possible bond violation charges.
Staff writer Sue Lindsay contributed to this report.
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
Rocky Multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Holiday Lights
Is your house the jolliest on the block? Submit your holiday lights display.
-
Holiday Gift Guide
Looking to get a jump-start on the holiday shopping season?
-
Mount Crushmore
Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.
-
Bronco Dean's rant
Listen to Bronco Dean's midweek rant on the Chiefs.
-
Broncos Video
Get the latest from Dove Valley as the Broncos prepare for Sunday's matchup.
-
Calendar wallpaper
Download this month's desktop wallpaper calendar
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Stirrin' the Soup with Matt Iseman
-
The Rocky @ 150 Years
Read the Rocky's coverage of Colorado's cannibal, Alfred Packer, in 1886.
January 24, 2008
12:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
Francesca writes:
Anyone surprised that she jumped the bond? Nice chicky. Not.
January 24, 2008
12:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
Downey1967 writes:
WOW!!! all of this for $500.00? talk about throwing ones life down the proverbial crapper.
January 24, 2008
1:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
Sic The Dog on Butler. Actually it would be a kick if the bondsman Mary Ellen did cover Butler's bond. Ellen uses Dog Chapman to chase down her dirtbags.
Scott
January 24, 2008
1:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
Jenlane writes:
This is not an uncommon story. My grandmother had 3 rings stolen from her at the Atria Inn in Lakewood when she first moved in. A police report was filed and we searched many local pawn shops to no avail. These were not extremely valuable, but sentimental and she suffered emotionally due to this loss. It is scary that employees of care homes can enter a residence at any time and commit such crimes. I am at many times fearful for her safety. It seems that these homes tend to attract opportunistic thieves.
January 24, 2008
3:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
kmeissner writes:
And she pleaded guilty to another charge in September? Who do these retirement homes hire? Anyone off the street? I can't wait to read a story about this dirtbag being apprehended. She not only caused a tragedy for this family, she is prolonging the grief as well! I hope the judge gives her the max and sends her away for a long time. Please do not plea bargain with this evil person!!!!
January 24, 2008
4:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
dubious writes:
Certainly it's prudent to suggest that all valuables be stored elsewhere when entering a facility. I would suggest the same to any family member making this living change. However, when someone moves into one of these facilities, it is generally for their final stage of life. There will be no more days to enjoy these very personal and sentimental items if they have to give them up early. May be asking too much emotionally of an individual to give up their home, their independence and these very personal sentiments. Sad that it has to be considered. :(
January 25, 2008
8:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
blacksho89 writes:
I have an idea. Pay the caregivers a decent wage, and you'll get better help.
Take a look in the want ads and see what the wage is. Wal-Mart is a better career.
But if they get paid more, then care will cost more, and our loved ones really aren't worth it, are they?
January 25, 2008
10:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
billaritz writes:
Like i said yesterday,PRISON,PRISON,PRISON,PRISON!!!!!!!Let her Ruthless ass rot in a jail cell where she belongs!
January 25, 2008
10:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
vudumom writes:
Whu doesn't the RMN put her picture on it's website for all to see?
Maybe someone can recognize her and turn her in.
January 25, 2008
12:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
MsValeriah writes:
This sorry, heartless dirtbag needs to be tracked down and thrown in jail til she rots. Anybody who would take advantage of someone so helpless deserves no mercy whatsoever. Yep. Post the slimey thing's picture for all to see, so the public can help bring her to justice.
January 25, 2008
1:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
pj48b writes:
headed for Mexico?
January 25, 2008
3:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
Juicycoop writes:
Ebony is one of my good friends I am not here to down size the severity of what she did, however she made a real big mistake. She was mother doing whatever she had to. It was very wrong and she knows it was. A scumbag NO. We have all made mistakes and have done things we regret I'm sure a lot of you out there passing judgment have made a few dishonest mistakes. Ebony did steal and betrayed the trust of her clients yes but she is not a worthless human how dare everyone sit here and pass judgment so hard. She will make this right. Ebony is a very kind, considerate, honest person she had real bad judgment. And NO she didn't just skip bond that easy she was homeless and was thinking about the welfare of her child Karma. She has a very big heart and feels horrible the family and for the way her mistake has portrayed her.
January 25, 2008
3:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
kitty writes:
She SHOULD feel horrible for the family...as for how it portrays her, I have made quite a few mistakes in my time...but to steal from ANYONE, much less a disabled elderly person, has never been one of them...never even crossed my mind to steal....there are plenty of other ways to make money, single mother or not! Then, to top it off, she skips her sentencing hearing? This makes her a WHAT kind of person? Don't get it at all, sorry!
January 25, 2008
3:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
Boohoo hooo.... how warped do you have to be to claim that someone that steals from an Alzheimer patient and then BRAGS about it is anything other than a sleazebag? The crook then skipped town when confronted with sentencing for her CRIME.
Scumbag. Sleazeball. Crook. Criminal. Convict. And hopefully soon, CAPTURED CRIMINAL will be used to describe her too.
January 25, 2008
6:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
snowbelly writes:
If she got $500 at the pawn shop the ring was significantly worth more than $5000. It's still grand theft and should be a hate crime against the elderly.More crimes are perpetrated against the elderly than ANYBODY else.