She’s been arrested more times than most can count—sometimes twice in one day—only to be released back onto the streets of Portsmouth. But now, a Scioto County Grand Jury has handed down serious felony charges in what could finally pause the dangerous cycle of arrest, release, repeat.
The 44-year-old homeless woman, long known to police, residents, and business owners for her chaotic and increasingly dangerous behavior, has been indicted for Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Receiving Stolen Property, and Vandalism. These charges follow previous indictments in June for Burglary and Theft, and they may be the only reason she’s being held in the Scioto County Jail—safe from both herself and the blistering summer heat.
📆 Court Date Set
She’s now scheduled to appear in court on August 20, but there’s still no guarantee she’ll get the help she so clearly needs. The court has the power to order a mental health competency hearing, and in some cases, that leads to placement in a psychiatric facility rather than jail. But in a county with zero inpatient psychiatric beds, those placements are rare and difficult to secure.
🧩 How Did We Get Here? A Wrap-Up of Her Latest Crime Spree
July 15 – Salvation Army Theft:
Employees at the Salvation Army Family Store reported the woman was “tweaking out” and stealing items from the store around 10 a.m. Officers arrived to find her still on site. They photographed the stolen goods, returned them to the store, and booked her into jail—briefly.
She was released again… until the felony charges from previous crimes finally stuck.
🔁 Two Arrests, Same Day
Just days earlier, she was arrested twice in a single day for separate disorderly conduct calls—once in the morning, again in the evening. Each time, she was released without treatment, left to wander the city in a state of obvious mental decline.
🚨 A Walking Warning Sign
She’s been caught:
- Dancing in traffic
- Screaming in parks
- Breaking into campers
- Smashing windows
- Stealing from porches
Yet each time, she’s either too mentally ill for jail or not “bad enough” for the system to intervene. Portsmouth Police know her by name. So do counselors who’ve banned her, rehab centers that refuse her, and store owners who dread her return.
🧠 Not on Drugs — Just Desperately Ill
Officers often clarify that she’s not intoxicated—she’s deeply mentally ill. But unless someone is actively violent or suicidal, police have no legal authority to hold her. Without accessible treatment or a crisis stabilization facility, she’s dumped back into a system that’s already failed her.
😡 Community Reaching Its Breaking Point
One homeowner, after finding her on his porch again, told police:
“Next time she shows up, I’m not calling. I’ll handle it myself.”
Police warned against vigilante justice—but it’s clear: Portsmouth residents are out of patience.
🏚️ An Open-Air Crisis
Portsmouth’s sidewalks, alleyways, condemned homes, and storefronts have become an open-air psychiatric unit, with officers, EMTs, and neighbors forced to manage what mental health professionals should be handling.
💬 The Real Solution Isn’t Jail
More arrests won’t fix this. The real answers lie in:
- Inpatient mental health beds
- Crisis stabilization centers
- Transitional housing
- Long-term treatment options
Until Portsmouth invests in serious, systemic solutions, this woman—and countless others—will continue to spiral in public, leaving a trail of arrests, court dates, 911 calls, and trauma behind them.
At this rate, it’s not a matter of if this story ends in tragedy—it’s a matter of when.
