Racine mom calls cops on son after he allegedly tried to pawn her engagement ring
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Cody Holyoke reports Video by tmj4.com
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RACINE- A severely ill woman fell victim to a thief who is also a family member. As Maria Ramirez slept, her son took her ring and tried to pawn it off.
A car crash left the woman bound by oxygen tanks and a mountain of prescriptions.
"I can't grocery shop. I can't go out and get my kids school supplies," says Ramirez. "I take medications to sleep, to help with the pain, to make sure my heart's okay."
The woman is religious and has faith in her family. Her husband bought her an engagement ring 20 years ago. After one of her naps Monday, it disappeared.
"When I went to sleep it was here. When I woke up, it was gone!"
Maria immediately called her 18-year-old son, Juan, who had left the house.
The woman drove down the road to the Regency Mall where a police officer helped her track the ring down to this jewelry store, where Juan reportedly sold it for cash.
"It's worth $8,000 and they gave him $200 cash," says Ramirez.
Juan later admitted he had a baby on the way and needed the money. Torn between law and family, Maria Ramirez decided to call the cops. They arrested Juan and charged him with theft and bail jumping.
"I was just to that point where it was enough!"
Now, out of fear, Maria Ramirez wears all the jewelry she owns. She hasn't spoken with her son and she hopes tough love will prevail.
"He's got to realize his mistakes, and the people that love him the most, how much he hurt them."
While Maria sits at home, Juan Ramirez is also in trouble for another theft a couple of weeks ago.
He'll be back in court to face both crimes next month.
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