ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A St. Augustine woman says painters that were called to finish painting their home ended up stealing from them.
Carolina Kugler said she and her husband just moved into their new home this month and there were still several things that they needed to have done.
She said painting touch-ups were on that list.
"Yesterday, the painters were supposed to show up. The original crew didn't show up so they sent these other people they pulled from another job," said Kugler.
Kugler said the painters were a third party brought in by the superintendent of the construction company they have been dealing with.
"They came around 10:30 a.m. and they worked until 3:30 p.m. all throughout the house. That's the thing, they were everywhere throughout the house," said Kugler.
She said during that time, her engagement ring disappeared from a ring holder near her bathroom sink. Kugler said she called the superintendent immediately, who sent the painters back to her home.
She said both men denied touching her things. Kugler said they left and failed to return to talk to a deputy she called to the home.
"I just wish they would have taken anything else, not the ring, the ring. My husband designed it himself. He proposed to me on Atlantic Beach. It means a lot," said Kugler.
We called the owner of the painting company that employs the painters, who had no idea about the allegations and told us the allegation is the first of its kind since starting the company in the 1980s.
We also checked with the Better Business Bureau and couldn't find any complaints against the locally owned business. We also reached out to both painters who Kugler said came to her home.
Both painters tell us that they had nothing to do with the engagement ring disappearing.
Kugler said she realizes that she will probably never get her ring back, and said her story is a warning to others having work done in their homes to make sure that they lock up their valuables.
"It's so upsetting. I respected them. I trusted them," said Kugler
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