In a plot straight out of a Hollywood thriller, a Las Vegas hotel housekeeper finds herself at the center of a jaw-dropping accusation of stealing an astonishing $1 million worth of jewelry from a guest’s room.
The high-profile theft transpired at the prestigious Vdara hotel, nestled in the heart of the iconic Vegas Strip, on the evening of May 7. Now, facing a series of grave charges including grand larceny, residential burglary, and conspiracy to commit burglary, Amanda Melendez stands accused of meticulously pilfering an array of watches, bracelets, and exquisite diamond jewelry.
In a recorded conversation with her incarcerated boyfriend, Melendez reportedly admitted to orchestrating an elaborate plan. She confessed to intentionally vandalizing the room and purposely leaving the door unlocked, staging what appeared to be a robbery scene.
According to documents obtained by 8 News Now Investigators, Melendez allegedly remarked to her boyfriend, “The plan was to leave the door open and make it look like ‘something else.'” The call allegedly captured Melendez clocking out from her shift and bidding her co-workers farewell with a nonchalant “see you guys tomorrow.”
MGM Resorts, the owner of the Vdara property, has remained tight-lipped, offering no official comment on either the incident or Melendez’s troubled past, which includes three prior arrests on charges related to solicitation and prostitution. The accused housekeeper had been employed by the hotel for a relatively short period of just eight months. It remains unclear whether efforts will be made to recover the stolen jewelry.
Melendez, having made her initial court appearance on May 16, now awaits her next court date scheduled for the upcoming month.
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