Racine man accused of stealing ring from dying mom

RACINE, Wis. — A Racine man is accused of stealing an anniversary ring from the finger of his dying mother and selling it to help his pregnant girlfriend.

Eighteen-year-old Juan R. Ramirez is scheduled for a plea hearing next month. He was charged this week with felony theft and bail jumping.

Prosecutors say Ramirez stole the $4,500 ring Monday while his mother was in a medically induced sleep. The criminal complaint quotes him as telling investigators he sold it for “not that much.”

A Journal Times of Racine report says the mother gave Ramirez an ultimatum: Return the ring or leave the house. After Ramirez allegedly said he didn’t have it, the woman told police she wanted to press charges.

A message left with Ramirez’s public defender Thursday wasn’t immediately returned.