Woman Says Mother's Wedding Ring Stolen In Convalescent Home

CARMICHAEL, Calif. (CBS13) -- A woman says she is pursuing legal action against a convalescent home after someone allegedly stole a priceless memento from her elderly mother.

Sherry Wofford said her mother, Mary Wofford, was placed in the Mission Carmichael Nursing Home after she suffered from a broken hip and worsening dementia, but she visited her for hours at a time.

When Wofford entered the home, she was still wearing her treasured married ring, a memento from her husband who had died more than 50 years ago.

"He died in Okinawa in 1953, when he had four kids," Sherry said.

Mary never remarried or took off the ring, and Sherry took a photo of the ring still on her mother's hand while she was inside the nursing home.

"I had her hand in my hand and her ring was there," she said. "You can't take it off of her finger, her fingers are too swollen."

The next day, Sherry returned to spend more time with Mary and discovered that the ring was missing. Sherry said she confronted staff members but received few answers about what could have happened to the ring.

The following day, Mary passed away.

"I feel like someone stabbed me, that someone would stop that low to steal the wedding ring off of an elderly person who was out on drugs," Sherry said.

CBS13 received a statement from the nursing home, saying in part, "We have completed our investigation and we could not substantiate that the alleged theft occurred at the facility."

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department is investigating the allegations. Sherry said she plans to take the convalescent home to civil court.