Dying mom’s wedding ring vanished at hospital, family says: ‘I want to believe it’s just misplaced’

ANGLETON, Texas (KTRK) — A daughter is heartbroken after her mother’s wedding ring went missing or was possibly stolen at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, a place where they had trusted her safety.

Michelle Josey, 49, tragically passed away on Jan. 28 after her husband called 911 when she stopped breathing. Despite the family’s efforts to understand what happened, they are still awaiting the medical examiner’s report.

The Angleton Police Department, responding initially to the incident, confirmed that Michelle Josey was wearing her wedding ring when she was transported to the hospital, based on body camera footage and paramedic interviews.

However, upon realizing that her wedding ring was missing, Michelle’s family was left devastated.

Kayla Josey, Michelle’s daughter, expressed her hopes that the ring might have been misplaced rather than stolen. She emphasized the sentimental value of the ring, as it symbolized her parents’ 28-year marriage and their enduring love.

While Michelle was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital by ambulance and later flown by Life Flight, the Angleton Police Department has no jurisdiction over the hospital. Thus, they couldn’t provide details on what happened to the ring once Michelle was in the hospital’s care.

The hospital assigned the case to an investigator, who conducted a thorough search but was unable to locate the missing items. The hospital expressed condolences to the family and assured them of their efforts to assist in any way possible.

Despite filing a report with the Houston Police Department, Kayla Josey expressed frustration at the slow progress of the investigation. However, an HPD spokesperson assured that the case would be assigned to an investigator soon.

Kayla Josey hopes that the incident prompts the hospital to review and improve their protocols for handling personal belongings, especially those entrusted to them during moments of crisis.

“When you send a loved one to the emergency room or hospital, you would think that there is some sort of procedure in place for personal belongings,” Kayla Josey said. “You would think it would be logged, and it would be easy for a family member to collect those items.”