Authorities are on the lookout for a heartless thief who brazenly attempted to steal a ring from the casket of the late 88-year-old Lois Hicks. The audacious act was caught on video, revealing the thief’s attempt to pilfer what seemed like a valuable wedding ring. However, the twist in the tale is that the stolen ring turned out to be a mere $10 piece of plastic, a fact unknown to the unsuspecting criminal.

The incident unfolded less than 24 hours after Hicks’ passing when a woman entered Sunset Funeral Home at around 5:30 p.m. on a Friday, asking to use the restroom, as shared by funeral home manager Bill Vallie. The crime occurred after Hicks’ daughter, Vel McKee, and others close to the deceased had left the premises.

Returning 15 minutes later to touch up her mother’s makeup, McKee was shocked to discover the missing ring from the deceased woman’s finger, which had torn during the removal process.

The thief’s actions were captured on video, showing her leaning over the casket, removing the ring, and casually walking away from the scene. The entire theft took place over about three minutes before the suspect fled in a four-door Saturn.

Expressing her disbelief and dismay, McKee told reporters, “I can’t believe someone would be that low. Horrible. I hope they catch her.”

Cpl. Steve LeSueur from the Odessa Police Department emphasized that, irrespective of the ring’s value, the crime is considered a felony. “It’s being investigated, even though the ring was a $10 plastic ring. Stealing a corpse, whether worth $5 or $5,000, remains an automatic felony, asserts LeSueur.

The stolen ring, initially believed to be of significant worth, turned out to be a deceptive accessory, adding a bizarre dimension to the audacious crime. While the crime itself is unsettling, what’s equally puzzling is how the video of the theft ended up online, garnering tens of thousands of views across various platforms.

A representative from Sunset Funeral Home clarified that the business did not publish the video online and refrained from providing further comments on the matter.

LeSueur revealed that the police first came across the video online late on a Friday night, nearly 24 hours before the theft was officially reported on Saturday evening. The bizarre theft attempt has not only shocked the local community but has also ignited widespread discussion, underlining the need for justice and accountability in the face of such callous criminal behavior.