A man walked into the Portsmouth Police Department with a wild story — and photographic proof — that blew the lid off a four-year-old criminal case that may have been chasing the wrong woman the entire time.
Back in September 2021, a woman was busted for criminal trespass and booked under the name Stephanie VanDyke. But according to the man who came forward, the woman in that mugshot wasn’t Stephanie at all — it was her sister, pulling a fast one on the system to avoid being ID’d.
📸 Caught on Camera
Officers compared the original booking photo with BMV images of both sisters and concluded the man might be right — the woman who stood in front of the booking camera four years ago may have committed identity fraud right at the police station.
👩⚖️ Wrong Woman Wanted?
The impersonator claimed to be homeless at the time, and when she skipped court, a bench warrant was issued for “Stephanie VanDyke.” That warrant is still active today, nearly four years later, with law enforcement potentially hunting the wrong suspect.
Now that the truth may have surfaced, Portsmouth Police are taking a second look. Officers have filed a new report — and there could be a whole new case unfolding.
⚠️ Top Takeaway:
Faking your identity might work in a movie, but in real life? It’s a felony-level fail. This case is a reminder that justice might be slow, but it eventually catches up — especially if you’ve been pretending to be your sister for nearly half a decade.