A man and woman are facing criminal charges after they were reportedly filmed repeatedly burglarizing the home of a Massachusetts man who’s remains hospitalized since suffering severe burns in a fire.
According to the Metro West Daily News, Joseph Migliaccio, 35, and Sarah Hampton, 31, were arrested Wednesday and charged with breaking and entering in the daytime and larceny from a disabled/elderly person. Though the pair was charged for two robberies, the victim’s son said they’ve robbed his father’s home three times since his hospitalization.
The victim, Gene Rano, 68, was reportedly placed in a medically-induced coma after suffering injuries while burning branches in his backyard on April 2. WCVB reported that doctors have amputated both his legs.
Rano, a Vietnam War veteran with mobility issues, reportedly installed surveillance cameras at his Marlborough home after he was robbed two years earlier.
“It should be noted that both Hampton and Migliaccio were aware that Mr. Rano had been injured in a fire at the residence and would not be home,” police said a press release.
Authorities alleged that Migliaccio and Hampton were caught on security cameras breaking into Rano’s home on April 5 and 7 and stealing a laptop, cellphone, and three televisions. On two instances, the pair had gone to a pawn shop in Framingham with the items they’re accused of stealing, according to WCVB.
“I asked them where they got it, they said they were moving and trying to sell their stuff,” pawn shop owner Roman Vynnytskyi said, recalling his second encounter with the suspects. “(Migliaccio) mentioned that he was selling tools because his father passed away. That was their story.”
In court Thursday, Migliaccio and Hampton reportedly admitted to committing the robberies to pay for surgery for one of their dogs.
“Both parties agreed to give the items back,” prosecutor Lyndsey Davis alleged. “(They) also advised they had pawned some items to a pawn store in Framingham.”
Migliaccio and Hampton were released from custody Wednesday after posting $1,000 bail. The pair were arraigned Thursday in Marlborough District Court.
[Featured image: WCVB video screengrab]
