BOYNTON BEACH, FL — When a local woman hired Merlande Marseille as her caretaker, she probably expected help with groceries, maybe some light housekeeping. What she didn’t expect? A one-woman pawn shop empire funded by her own jewelry collection.
The victim (let’s call her Very Trusting Lady) returned from a trip to New York only to discover her $60,000 bling stash had mysteriously vanished. The only suspect? Her caretaker, Marseille, who had been holding down the fort—and apparently, the safe.
When confronted, Marseille played it cool, denying any involvement. But investigators weren’t buying it. A quick peek at local pawn shop records revealed 15 separate transactions under her name—all conveniently matching the missing jewelry.
Cops: “So, you just happened to sell 15 pieces of high-end jewelry while your employer was away?”
Marseille: “Uh… garage sale?”
Spoiler: That excuse didn’t work. She’s now facing charges, proving once again that Florida’s most creative entrepreneurs aren’t always on the right side of the law.
Moral of the story? If your caretaker suddenly starts dressing like a Kardashian, check the safe.