PHOENIX - An 80-year-old woman whose wedding ring was ripped from her finger on Mother's Day will get her prized possession back, police said Thursday.
Phoenix police said they recovered Diane Froese's ring and made an arrest. They added that they were holding onto the ring as part of the investigation, but told Froese that she'll get it back "very soon."
Froese, of Phoenix, told The Arizona Republic that she was able to see and hold the ring on Thursday to confirm it was hers.
She had begged to news media outlets for the ring's return Tuesday because of how much it meant to her. The ring was from her late husband of more than 50 years.
She said they bought wedding rings together at a discount shop in Globe in 1958 and that hers cost less than $25, but it had "a lot of history, and a lot of sentiment with it."
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She said she was loading groceries into her car on May 9 when a young woman approached her and asked for gas money.
Froese said she told the woman she had no cash but took her to an ATM and tried to withdraw some to give to her.
Froese didn't realize her card had expired, apologized to the woman and told her she had done everything she could but had to get home.
Froese said the woman put her hand out to say goodbye, then grabbed Froese's arm and ripped off the ring.
The suspect arrested in the theft was identified as Jennifer White, 28, who was taken to a Maricopa County jail on a strong-arm-robbery charge.
It was unclear whether she has a lawyer.
