OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Zapporah Gibson, a 33-year-old at-home healthcare provider, has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars worth of high-end jewelry from her elderly clients.
Gibson is accused of taking a Rolex watch and several rings from a home where she was providing care to an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer’s. According to Gary Knight from the Oklahoma City Police Department, “Elderly people are often targeted because they can become easy prey, especially if they are experiencing cognitive decline.”
Court documents reveal that Gibson had accessed the victim’s home multiple times. When the 85-year-old husband sought his rings for a dinner date, he discovered they were missing. “Any time you let a healthcare worker into your home, you’re allowing a stranger into your space, which carries its own risks,” Knight added.
The victim explained to police that he received the Rolex watch as a gift while working in the oil industry overseas. In a twist, Gibson reportedly used that same story when she sold the watch to a watch store in Warr Acres. Furthermore, she sold two of the victim’s rings at pawn shops for cash. An employee from one of the pawn shops confirmed that they had seen Gibson in the store.
Documents indicate that the owner of the pawn shop provided police with a written receipt containing Gibson’s information. Knight advises, “Ensure you either lock up your valuables or entrust them to a family member to prevent theft.”
Gibson is facing charges of Grand Larceny and False Declaration to a pawn shop. Authorities managed to return the Rolex watch and one of the stolen rings to the victim.