A Florida housekeeper has been charged with multiple offenses, including robbery, forgery, and aggravated battery, after allegedly assaulting her elderly employer when she was denied a requested $500 Christmas bonus.
Heather Nelson, 29, reportedly attacked her 83-year-old employer on December 24, after the victim told Nelson that she could not afford to provide the bonus.
According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, when the elderly woman denied the request, Nelson responded by forcibly wrenching the woman’s checkbook from her hand, nearly breaking her wrist.
Nelson then allegedly stole a check from the victim’s checkbook, writing it to herself for $1,400, and used the elderly woman’s credit card to make various purchases, including paying her own rent.
The incident occurred at the elderly woman’s home, where Nelson had been working as a housekeeper. Authorities were alerted to the situation after discovering the fraudulent purchases and the stolen check.

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Nelson was arrested on January 7, and though she was released shortly after, she now faces serious charges, including robbery, aggravated battery on a person over 65, grand theft, forgery, and fraudulent use of a credit card.
The sheriff’s office believes Nelson may have been in financial distress, explaining that the thefts could have been seen by her as a desperate way to resolve her troubles.
However, public information officer Tod Goodyear condemned the actions, emphasizing that taking advantage of elderly people is never acceptable.
“The elderly are scammed and taken advantage of because they’re often trusting,” he told Fox 35 Orlando.
Nelson’s motivations remain unclear, and it is unknown if she has legal representation to comment on the charges.