Assisted Living Facility Employee Faces Multiple Theft Charges: Montgomery County Police

GERMANTOWN, MD — A 14-year employee of an assisted living center in Montgomery County is accused of stealing jewelry from a resident, according to Montgomery County Police.

Maritza Ramirez of Germantown — a worker at Marian Assisted Living in the 19100 block of Georgia Avenue in Brookville — has been charged with multiple counts of theft and theft scheme, according to a news release from the police department.

The investigation launched March 31 when Fourth District officers responded to the Marian Assisted Living facility for the report of a theft. The victim’s family discovered that while their family member had undergone surgery and recovery, multiple pieces of jewelry and a cell phone had gone missing from the locked bedroom, authorities said.

Detectives learned Ramirez, 57, had an extensive pawn history dating back to 2015, including fine jewelry such as wedding bands, diamond rings, gold pendants and gold necklaces, a news release said.

From September 2015 to April 2022, Ramirez pawned four wedding bands, 28 rings consisting of wedding, engagement and birth stone rings, 14 gold necklaces, eight pairs of earrings, 13 gold pendants, four gold bracelets and six purses, authorities said.

These items of jewelry had unique personal inscriptions:

• A gold bracelet with the inscription “Samantha 6-7-92”
• A diamond ring with inscription “G.L.G to H.C.E. 5-23-83”
• A gold wedding band with inscription “S.C.D. and M.A.K. 12-27-54”
• A gold wedding band with inscription “F.J.F. to C.M.D.”
• A gold baby ring with inscription “M.L.P.-J.A.G. 11-2-18”

Additional items were recovered when a search warrant was executed at her Germantown home.

Ramirez has been charged with one count of theft of $100 to under $1,500, two counts of theft of $1,500 to under $25,000, and two counts of theft scheme of $1,500 to under $25,000.

Detectives believe Ramirez may have stolen from other victims who have not contacted the police and they are asked to reach out to the 4th District Investigative Section at 240-773-5530.