Alzheimer's Home Worker Charged With Stealing Rings Off Patients' Fingers

A former worker at a Hempfield Township home for Alzheimer's patients has been charged with literally stealing the rings off the fingers of three women while caring for them.

Officials at the Walnut Ridge Memory Care home said Thursday that Renetta Shipp, 45, of Jeannette, no longer works there.

State police said Shipp pulled a gold ring off each of two patients -- a 93-year-old woman and a 59-year-old women -- while putting them to bed. Shipp allegedly stole five rings while helping an 88-year-old patient shower.

The rings were two gold wedding rings, two diamond rings and one gold band inlaid with rubies and diamonds, police said.

Police said Shipp would take the rings directly to a jewelry outlet where she would sell them.

Shipp faces a preliminary hearing July 31.