A Key West teacher was arrested on Thursday after she allegedly stole several orchids from an Islamorada resort earlier in the month.
Jessica Diane Wood, 40, was charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure and petit theft.
Wood’s arrest came after an investigation into a theft that started on June 11, when Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Moorings Village resort in Islamorada. A security guard and manager reported that a woman was caught on camera climbing over a fence and into a plant nursery, where she stole eight orchid plants, according to the report.
A review of security footage showed a woman climb the fence while an unidentified driver backs an SUV up to the fence line, according to the report. Several employees and witnesses at the resort were able to identify Wood, knowing her either as their former high school teacher or from her employment at the nearby Fisher Inn Resort, according to the report.
Deputies met with Wood, who said she hadn’t been to Moorings Village in approximately five years. However, once confronted with the video evidence, Wood reportedly admitted to trespassing on the property and stealing the orchids. The next day, an orchid arrangement with a card was left on the property with an apology note signed by Wood. Wood confirmed her sister dropped the flowers off for her. Despite this, deputies obtained a warrant for her arrest.
Wood was arrested and transported to the Plantation Key jail, but she was released the same day after posting her $10,000 bond.
While the police report lists Wood as a teacher at Coral Shores High School, she is listed on the directory of Key West High School. A spokesperson for the Monroe County School District was not immediately available for comment.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that could help solve a crime in the Florida Keys, call Crime Stoppers, 800-346-TIPS.
