Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Home Health Aide Sentenced 14 Months in Prison for Theft
(ZANESVILE, OH)
On April 6, 2026, Amber Ross, 44, of Zanesville, appeared in the Muskingum Court of Common Pleas following a guilty plea that stemmed from Ross stealing from an elderly client.
Ross admitted guilt to the following charges: Theft from a Person in a Protected Class, Unauthorized Use of Property, Theft of Drugs, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Ross appeared before Judge Kelly Cottrill and was sentenced to 14 months in prison.
Details of the Case:
On November 18, 2025, $3,000 was reported stolen to the Zanesville Police Department. The victim reported that the only individuals that had been in the home were home health workers.
The victim called the home health agency to report the theft. After being confronted about the missing money, Amber Ross confessed to stealing it.
A search warrant was served on Ross’s home. During the warrant a bag of what would later be confirmed as cocaine was discovered. A secondary search warrant found another bag of cocaine, a piece of glass with white residue, scales and cut straws.
During interviews with detective Bryan Ruff, Ross admitted to stealing the money, advising that she used it on her water bill.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Warren Edwards, who handled the case highlighted, "Theft from our community's most vulnerable citizens by those paid to care for them is a despicable breach of trust that we will seek serious consequences for."
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