A St. Petersburg man was arrested on Thursday after deputies said he stole jewelry from a corpse while he was in the home to recover her body.

Deputies responded to a home on Pinehurst Road in Dunedin around 12:46 p.m. to conduct a death investigation. During their investigation, an employee from Alternate Transport Service Inc., who was contracted through Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home in Clearwater, arrived to the home to remove the body.

As the employee, identified as 44-year-old Terrance Stubblefield, was leaving the home, deputies said they noticed a chain necklace hanging from his pocket. Deputies attempted to stop Stubblefield, who then entered his vehicle and placed the jewelry inside.

Deputies then questioned him about the jewelry, and he told them the jewelry belonged to his girlfriend.

Deputies were able to photograph the jewelry, valued at approximately $1,000, and show it to the victim's daughter. The victim's daughter was able to positively identify that the jewelry belonged to her mother, 88-year-old Maryellen Woods.

Deputies again questioned Stubblefield who admitted to the theft allegations.

Stubblefield has been charged with grand theft and was transported him to the Pinellas County Jail.