Woman seen taking plant in video tells her side of the story

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Theft or purchase? That's the question after hearing the other side of the missing porch plant saga. It's a story that included this bizarre confrontation:

Accused thief's daughter: "How many times have you been charged?

Reporter: "None."

Accused Thief's Daughter: "How many times has your momma been charged?"

Reporter "My mom's never been to jail."

Accused Thief's Daughter: "I doubt it."

On Tuesday, Emma Lyder provided security camera video showing what appeared to be two women stealing an aloe vera plant and a plant stand from her property in Riverside Terrace where she lives with her husband. Using the license plate of the car in the video, Eyewitness News tracked the car to a house off Hiram Clarke, where a young woman denied her mother had anything to do with the theft.

By Wednesday afternoon, Lena Brown, 64, called saying she was the woman in the video and wanted to tell her story.

Brown, who's pleaded guilty to theft five times according to online Harris County court records, says she met the transgender woman, also in the video, on the street. Feeling charitable, she says she gave her $5 and then $20 because the woman, who said she was moving, was trying to unload the plant and some cans of paint. When they got to the home in the Third Ward, all Brown found was the plant. The stranger she let in her car took a plant stand.

"It was a misunderstanding. It hate that it happened. I'm glad the lady got her plant back," said Brown, who declined an on-camera interview.

"You guys need to look further for the plant porch thief. That's not me. I bought the plant," she added.

Brown invited Eyewitness News back to her house to pick up the plant and return it to Lyder's property.

There is still an open theft case filed with the Houston Police Department.