Suspect in nursing home thefts in jail

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The Columbus woman deputies say is responsible for thefts at more than a dozen assisted living facilities turned herself in Thursday night to Columbus police.

Susan Gwynne, 55, of 5540 Ravine Bluff Court, Columbus, was indicted on 101 charges Wednesday by a Delaware County grand jury in connection with more than 3,000 items stolen, including jewelry and credit cards, from the assisted living facilities over the past eight years.

A warrant was issued for her arrest after the indictment was filed and officials from the sheriff’s office said that deputies were out looking for her Thursday night when officers from the Columbus Police Department contacted her and convinced her to turn herself in around 6:30 p.m., Delaware County deputies said.

She was in the Delaware County Jail Friday afternoon awaiting her arraignment in Delaware County Common Pleas Court. The arraignment had not been scheduled Friday.

Gwynne was indicted on 31 counts of burglary, which are second-degree felonies; 43 felony counts of theft; 12 counts of possessing criminal tools, which are fifth-degree felonies; and 15 counts of receiving stolen property, which are first-degree misdemeanors.

Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O’Brien said the case is “the biggest indictment” she has seen since she’s been the county prosecutor.

Authorities say they believe that Gwynne posed as an employee of the facilities and stole items while residents were out of their rooms.

Most of the crime scenes are in Franklin County. The Delaware County assisted living facilities affected were The Inn at Olentangy Trail and Abbington of Powell, located at 3971 Bradford Road, Powell.

An investigation of the stolen jewelry began after deputies received a call in January regarding a theft from an elderly woman living at The Inn at Olentangy Trail, located at 6 Corduroy Road, Delaware.

After the call, the sheriff’s office began circulating a surveillance photo taken at The Inn at Olentangy Trail and a caller from another county led deputies to Gwynne.

O’Brien said a search warrant was issued and served at Gwynne’s Columbus apartment and resulted in the seizure of more than 3,000 items, mostly jewelry.

Deputies reported other missing items included cash, credit cards and Social Security cards. Prosecutors said Thursday that several stolen items were also recovered from area pawn shops.

O’Brien said Friday that prosecutors are still investigating but do not believe Gwynne used any of the stolen credit cards. O’Brien add that at this point in the investigation, prosecutors believe Gwynne was working alone.

Prosecutors said that since the initial report and release of Gwynne’s photo, additional victims have come forward. Prosecutors said the indictment lists 31 victims who are in their 70s, 80s and 90s. The oldest victim is 101 years old.

The indictment alleges that Gwynne has been stealing from victims since April 2008. The last theft was in March 2016, court documents indicate. Deputies said Thursday that investigators learned of the older crimes while investigating the 2016 thefts.

Gwynne
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2016/06/web1_susan-gwynne-1.jpgGwynne Courtesy photo | The Gazette

By Glenn Battishill

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Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG.

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