A Valrico woman (we’ll call her Val) stopped off at a Davenport 7-Eleven to use the lavatory to freshen up.
Once fresh, Val exited the restroom and walked up to the check-out counter to make a purchase. That’s when Val realized that she left her cell phone in the restroom.
When Val got back to the restroom, she encountered Matilda. Val asked if Matilda had seen a cell phone in the loo. Matilda replied, “No,” and walked past Val and promptly left the store.
Val looked in the restroom, but the phone was no longer in there. Store security video showed that nobody but Matilda had entered the restroom since Val left.
Interesting thing about Matilda…she was wearing a fast food restaurant uniform.
A deputy went to the restaurant and learned Matilda did indeed work there, but had left for the day.
The deputy went to Matilda’s home and met her there. By the way, Val’s “Find My Phone” app was showing that the phone was at Matilda’s address, until it was powered off.
Matilda became immediately hostile with the deputy and denied taking the cell phone.
Unfortunately, the phone was not located. But the deputy didn’t leave empty-handed…he left with Matilda. He took her to Grady Judd’s Bartow Bed & Breakfast and charged with grand theft.
