Woman Attacks Boss After Being Denied Bonus

Heather Nelson, a 29-year-old housekeeper from Florida, was recently taken into custody following a Christmas Eve incident that resulted in allegations of theft and assault. Nelson, who was tasked with maintaining the home of an 83-year-old woman, is now facing a slew of felony charges. According to court records from Brevard County, these charges include aggravated battery, robbery, forgery, fraud, passing a counterfeit instrument, and grand theft. Additionally, Nelson is also facing a single misdemeanor fraud charge.

The incident reportedly unfolded when the elderly woman was unable to fulfill Nelson’s request for a $500 Christmas bonus. In response to this, Nelson is alleged to have stolen a larger sum of money, leaving the elderly woman with a swollen wrist, as reported by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

Nelson is accused of forcefully taking a check, Christmas cards containing money, and several debit and credit cards. She then allegedly vacated the premises, forged signatures, and attempted to steal a significant sum of money from the elderly woman, according to Tod Goodyear, the public information officer for the sheriff’s office.

The allegations against Nelson go beyond the theft of the checkbook. Investigators allege that she used the stolen funds to pay her overdue rent, writing a check for $1,400, a sum significantly larger than the requested bonus. Goodyear suggested that Nelson’s actions might have been driven by financial difficulties.

Nelson was arrested nearly two weeks after the incident. The delay was due to the time needed to trace her alleged financial misconduct. Deputies followed the money trail after the allegedly forged check cleared and credit card transactions were posted, leading to Nelson’s arrest on January 7.

The sheriff’s office issued a press release condemning Nelson’s actions, comparing her to the Grinch, a character from Dr. Seuss known for stealing Christmas. The release detailed the incident, expressing outrage at Nelson’s alleged actions and the harm caused to the elderly victim.

Authorities noted that the housekeeper was a trusted, long-term employee. Goodyear highlighted the vulnerability of the elderly, who are often scammed or taken advantage of due to their trusting nature or diminished capacity. Nelson was initially held on a $30,000 bond and was released on January 9, according to Brevard County Jail records.