OLATHE, Kan. — A former housekeeper is accused of stealing and pawning jewelry worth more than $580,000 from a Stilwell, Kansas home.
On Friday morning, Johnson County Sheriff Deputies arrested Sabina Garcia-Rivera, 43, on a single theft charge.
For nearly a decade, Mary Ann Gerber trusted Garcia-Rivera with her home and valuables.
“She needs to be held accountable,” Gerber told 41 Action News.
Gerber first met Garcia-Rivera at her local gas station.
“She and one of the girls that worked there cleaned part time so they would come every other week on Tuesdays,” Gerber said.
That turned into a full-time job for Garcia-Rivera. Gerber provided her with a salary, health benefits and even a holiday bonus.
After a recent home renovation, the 65-year-old business owner noticed some of her jewelry, including heirlooms, were gone.
"Some more expensive pieces came up missing. One was also a horseshoe necklace and I knew where it was but I thought, 'well, maybe I moved it and put it somewhere,'" Gerber said.
But on Nov. 27, 2017, Gerber caught Garcia-Rivera red-handed.
“I came down the hall and her hand was in my purse, so then I questioned [her],” Gerber said.
She fired Garcia-Rivera and called the police. During the course of their investigation, detectives discovered 44 pieces of jewelry worth more than $580,000 were stolen over a two-year period.
“Why she did something like this I don’t understand,” Gerber said.
Some of the pieces, including a Rolex valued at $37,500, were pawned for $350 bucks.
“Her excuse was she needed to pay her rent but I would have helped her in any way. I always helped her,” Gerber said.
Garcia-Rivera didn't say much at her initial appearance in the Johnson County courthouse Friday afternoon, nor did her relatives.
The judge kept Garcia-Rivera’s bond at $5,000, which Gerber thought was a low amount considering the crime.
House arrest is a condition of Garcia-Rivera’s bond until her next court date on Feb. 8.
