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Brevard County, FL – Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Heather Nelson, a house cleaner accused of physically assaulting and robbing her 83-year-old employer on Christmas Eve. The victim, who had employed Nelson as a cleaner, was reportedly attacked after refusing Nelson’s demand for a $500 Christmas bonus.
According to Sheriff Wayne Ivey, the elderly victim explained she couldn’t afford to give the bonus. Nelson’s response, described as a “Grinch-like” act, involved forcefully snatching the victim’s checkbook, stealing a check, and taking Christmas cards containing checks intended for others. In the scuffle, the victim’s wrist was severely injured. Sheriff Ivey emphasized the cruelty of the act, stating, “I guess committing battery and almost breaking the wrist of the elderly victim wasn’t bad enough, so you decide to steal all her money and take Christmas gifts that were meant for others as well!”
The investigation, led by Agent Kevin Sherrill of the General Crimes Unit, revealed that Nelson had written herself a $1,400 check using the stolen checkbook and had also used the victim’s credit card to pay her rent and make several other purchases. The fraudulent transactions were uncovered as part of the Sheriff’s Office investigation.
Nelson faces a litany of charges, including robbery by sudden snatching, aggravated battery on a person over 65, forgery, uttering a forged instrument, criminal use of personal identification, fraudulent use of a credit card, and grand theft. She was arrested on a $30,000 bond and booked at the Brevard County Jail, which Sheriff Ivey humorously dubbed “Ivey’s Iron Bar Lodge.” Nelson was also provided with “a keepsake booking photo, a slightly used pair of shower slides, and unlimited access to our world-famous one-star dining facility where you can enjoy absolutely nothing you eat.”
The Sheriff’s Office shared further details about the arrest, noting that Nelson expressed concern during her arrest that the situation might “make her look bad.” In response, Sheriff Ivey stated, “To be honest Heather, you made yourself look bad, and that is why you had a waiting reservation to be arrested by our team.”
The case has drawn widespread attention, with Sheriff Ivey commending the swift and diligent work of Agent Sherrill and the General Crimes Unit. The Sheriff concluded the announcement by expressing satisfaction that Nelson is now behind bars, ensuring she cannot harm anyone else in the community.
