Elmont woman steals family pet

An Elmont woman was arrested at her home on Sept. 4, at 10:30 a.m., for stealing a dog from a Westbury home.

According to Nassau County’s Third Precinct, Daffney Rincher, 27, of 307 Elmont Rd. in Elmont, was employed as a home health aide for Kerri and Edward Matuszak, the mother of 16-year-old triplets, Ian, Alec — who both have cerebral palsy — and Sydney, who has scoliosis. The Matuszaks have lived in Westbury for more than 20 years — 10 of which they’ve lived on Boelsen Drive. Rincher was working as an aide with the agency Aides at Home, Inc.

Rincher had been working at the Matuszaks’ home since March, and on Aug. 18, after completing her shift, she concealed and removed the Matuszak’s dog — a 4-month-old Havanese puppy named Lily — from their home. Although the Matuszaks filed a report with police on Aug. 18, Lily was not recovered by detectives and returned to the family until Sept. 4.

Kerri explained that although she slightly suspected Rincher was involved in Lily’s disappearance — she had asked her children questions like “How much is the puppy worth?” and “When are you leaving for Florida,” when the family was planning a vacation — she couldn’t believe that anyone would steal her.

In weeks leading up to Rincher’s arrest, Kerri said, she became increasingly suspicious of Rincher. However, she said, police refused to question Rincher until they had proof that she might be involved.

In addition to posting flyers around town, reaching out to the community on multiple social networks and going door-to-door, trying to find Lily, the Matuszaks spent time trying to find proof of Rincher’s involvement in the case. On Sept. 2, Kerri said, she discovered a Facebook post written by Rincher’s sister, dated Aug. 18, stating that she was dog-sitting with her sister (Rincher).

“That was enough to go back to the police,” Kerri said.

After police investigated and found Lily at Rincher’s home, she was arrested and charged with petit larceny. Rincher was still serving the Matuszaks as a home health aide when she was arrested.

Kerri said that she and her family — who also have two older dogs, Max and Lola, who are Lily’s parents — are ecstatic to have Lily back at home. The puppy has long been a form of therapy for Ian and Alec, she added.

The Matuszaks said that they don’t plan on bringing a new home health aide into their home anytime soon. “Why bring more trouble into our home?” Kerri said. “Who knows what we will get next! I think I’ll do everything myself. Truthfully, I obviously can’t protect my home if I bring the trouble inside.”

Regarding Rincher’s future, Kerri said, “I personally hope she spends time in jail, she tore out our hearts ... We were devastated. (The children) cried every day.”

Rincher was scheduled to appear at First District Court in Hempstead on Sept. 13.

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