FLAGLER COUNTY, FL – A 38-year-old woman from Lake Orion, Kayla Conner, has been arrested after being accused of stealing from an elderly client while working as a maid for a cleaning service. Conner is facing 18 felony charges, including grand theft, fraud, and false verification of ownership, after allegedly pocketing valuables, including jewelry and debit cards, from a residence in Palm Coast.
The Alleged Theft
The chain of events began on Aug. 25, when a widowed man discovered that a bracelet belonging to his recently deceased wife was missing from his home. In addition to the bracelet, the man noticed several identification cards and debit cards belonging to his late wife were also gone.
The man quickly checked his financial accounts and found 11 unauthorized transactions, including four Venmo transactions totaling over $650. He then contacted law enforcement, suspecting that Kayla Conner, who had cleaned his home three days earlier, was involved. The man said Conner had access to the master bedroom, where the stolen items had been kept, and pointed out that the Venmo transactions were sent to a user named “Kayla”.
Conner’s Denial and Suspicious Behavior
On Sept. 23, Conner was interviewed by authorities at a probation office, where she denied involvement in the thefts. She suggested that her boss, who had also been present during the cleaning, was responsible. Conner further cooperated by providing her cellphone and an access code to assist with the investigation. However, the access code she provided was incorrect, raising suspicions.
Later that day, Conner’s boyfriend called the deputy, stating that he had confronted Conner about the thefts but initially believed her claims of innocence. However, the deputy learned that the passcode provided by Conner remained incorrect.
The boyfriend also claimed that Kayla had deleted her Venmo account and suggested that her mother’s Chewy.com account might be involved. Authorities were able to subpoena Venmo and Chewy.com records to further investigate.
New Allegations and Pawned Jewelry
On Sept. 25, another customer of the cleaning service left a voicemail accusing Conner of stealing several pieces of gold jewelry. The victim also suspected Conner was the perpetrator, according to the reports.
In the course of their investigation, police discovered that Conner had pawned several pieces of jewelry in late August for a total of $620. On Sept. 30, investigators presented photos of the pawned jewelry to the widower, who immediately recognized his deceased wife’s missing charm bracelet.
Conner’s Arrest and Charges
On Sept. 30, Kayla Conner was arrested and charged with 18 felonies, including:
- Pocket picking of more than $300 from an elderly person
- Grand theft from a building and dwelling
- Dealing or trafficking stolen property
- False verification of ownership
Conner is currently being held in the Flagler County Jail on a $5,000 bond. She is scheduled for arraignment on Nov. 4.
Law Enforcement’s Statement
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly condemned the theft, stating, “Residents hire cleaning services to help make their homes cleaner, not to have their valuables stolen. Thanks to the quick work of our detectives, this thief is now behind bars where she belongs. We will continue working to return stolen property to the rightful owners.”
Investigation Continues
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to identify other potential victims and return any stolen property. Detectives are also exploring mental health and criminal history factors to understand the motivations behind Conner’s alleged actions.
What do you think about this shocking case of theft by someone hired to clean a home? Share your thoughts in the comments below and discuss how we can prevent such crimes in the future. Do you believe cleaning service companies should perform more thorough background checks.
