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Ring Stolen From Dead Veteran Returned To Family; Springfield Nursing Assistant Charged

A wedding ring stolen from a recently deceased veteran in Hampden County has been returned to the man's family after a Massachusetts State Trooper tracked it to a pawn shop. A nursing assistant who'd helped care for the man admitted to taking the ring and selling it, authorities said. 

Antonio Bell

Antonio Bell

Photo Credit: Massachusetts State Police

Antonio Bell, 53, of Springfield, is charged with theft from a person over 65, theft from a building, and receiving stolen property, State Police said. Bell had cared for the veteran for three years. 

Trooper Jonah Vaclavicek, stationed at the Northampton barracks, spent two weeks investigating the theft after the veteran's family contacted police. The Holyoke veteran's name was not released. 

Vaclavicek whittled down the list of suspects as he spoke with funeral home staff and found out the timetable of when the gold ring went missing. He later found it at a Springfield pawn shop. 

Bell had taken it and sold it for $85. The ring is worth $2,000, though it's likely priceless to the man's family.  

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