PLANTATION, Fla. — Betty Wagner had worn the engagement ring her husband Arthur gave her for 67 years until last Saturday. WSVN reports that while Betty was in her hospital bed, a deplorable act occurred.
“I came in the morning, and I’m holding her hand, talking to her, and the ring is gone,” Arthur told WSVN.
Betty suffers from advancing Alzheimer’s disease and was sedated in her hospital bed when it happened.
“From the bruises on her finger that looked like both rings were pulled off, and the wedding band was put back on. I just tear up, it was tough,” Arthur lamented.
Officer Laurie Graber was assigned to investigate the theft and said she was appalled that someone would prey on someone so vulnerable. She said it looked like the couple still shared an intense love after many years together.
“After 67 years of that ring being on her finger, she still looked at him like he was her knight in shining armor, and he looked at her like she was still his young bride,” Officer Graber told WSVN.
The officer then tasked herself with rectifying the situation. She said she went to J.C. Penney and bought a small ring for Betty and left her a note.
“A promise kept for 67 years is worth something,” Arthur said of the note left for his bride.
Arthur says the new ring has helped ease Betty’s pain. As for the investigation, police are still reviewing surveillance footage to try and determine who committed the ring theft.
Read more on KSVN.
