Couple accused in home-invasion spree in Ann Arbor, southeast Michigan
A couple faces allegations they were involved in a rash of home invasions stretching from Birmingham to Adrian, with many occurring in Ann Arbor.
Wendy Neyhart
Courtesy of Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
Wendy Neyhart, 35 of Ypsilanti Township, has been charged in seven home invasions and was arraigned Thursday at the Washtenaw County Jail, according to Ann Arbor police Detective Lt. Robert Pfannes.
A 41-year-old Ypsilanti man will be arraigned on charges related to the case, but remains uncharged as of Friday afternoon. His name has not been released because arraignment is pending.
The couple is accused of being involved in at least nine home invasions in the city of Ann Arbor, Pfannes said.
The crucial tip that led to the identification of Neyhart and the other man came after a break-in on Sept. 19 in the 1900 block of Ivywood on Ann Arbor's west side. Pfannes said neighbors saw an older white Jeep Cherokee with two people inside at the time of the home invasion.
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped a similar vehicle on Sept. 25.
“The two occupants were found to be in possession of jewelry that was later tied to an Ypsilanti Township home invasion,” Pfannes said in a statement. “Further investigation linked the suspects’ range north to Northfield Township, extending northeast to Birmingham and as far west as Adrian.”
Ann Arbor police apprehended Neyhart and the man on Oct. 9 as they attempted to sell golden rings to a buyer in the 3300 block of Washtenaw Avenue. Those rings had been stolen, according to initial police accounts.
The couple’s apartment in Ypsilanti Township was searched and more than $30,000 of stolen property was found, Pfannes said.
Among the home invasions the couple is accused of being involved in are incidents in the 1500 block of King George, the 1500 block of Normandy, the 2500 block of Oakhills, the 1500 block of Newport, the 2500 block of Page, the 1900 block of Ivywood, the 400 block of Sumark Way, the 1400 block of Bardstown and the 1500 block of Bardstown, Pfannes said.
Pfannes said investigators from the Northfield Township Police Department and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office played a major role in the investigation.
"Northfield Township police and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office were instrumental in solving this case," Pfannes said Friday.
The man was on parole and is lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail. Neyhart was arraigned and turned over to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office for a probation violation.
According to state records, Neyhart has two previous convictions for embezzlement by a trustee more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 from a 2005 case.
View 1500 King George Blvd in a larger map
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
D. Schafer
Tue, Nov 20, 2012 : 1:22 a.m.
Cane that couple on the court house steps then lock them up! Let them out only to clean up litter in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, that will keep thoughs Aholes out of trouble for a long long time!
Elouise
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 9:01 p.m.
And, now, if she is proven to be innocent, her name and face has been put out there wrongfully... People will always wonder. But that's only IF......
John Seychel
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 7:41 p.m.
Wow, all the money we spend to have police protection, lol at them.
RJA
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 12:57 a.m.
You all make me laugh about tattoo's. I have never seen a tattoo go on a home invasion spree.
rachael
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
Wow I don't know wat to say I never thought my own cuz would do something like this. Really you was doing so good wat happen. Why would you through your life away?
Cheryl
Fri, Dec 28, 2012 : 2:59 p.m.
The guy?
rachael
Fri, Nov 23, 2012 : 4:21 a.m.
cheryl when did you meet her? Like people say it may have just been the wrong time wrong place. I didn't like the guy to beging with. Something was not right about him. but i have been told to keep my mouth out of it because her kids didn't like what i wrote, so i will not post anything else after this.
Cheryl
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 : 4:19 p.m.
You sound surprised??? Im not..I seen through her when I met her!
Ann English
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 12:37 a.m.
It might be another example of choosing your companions carefully; great upbringing, great achievements, great circumstances, but then someone comes along who influences you in bad ways.
Nicole B.
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
OTIS indicates that she is 36 (born Oct 1, 1976).
Kitty O'Brien
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 7:13 a.m.
Like to get some insight on how these 2 individuals selected their victim's homes. They hit nearly every part of town. Glad no one was physically harmed. I hope the victims are able to get their possessions back, most of which appear to be jewelry which often has sentimental value.
Kitty O'Brien
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 6:58 a.m.
It would be great if A2.com could list the age and sex (i.e. Jane Doe, 35, Female) beneath the perpetrator's photo. Been a bit confused lately.
Krupper1
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 5:10 a.m.
As a victim of "home invasion" this past July, I'm hoping that this couple or the foursome awaiting trial are the ones responsible. . .
Superior Twp voter
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 3:28 a.m.
GREAT job NTPD and WCSO - especially the sharp Deputy(s) that stopped such a vehicle six days later and remembered.
MjC
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 12:41 a.m.
Good police work and many thanks to the neighbors who were alert and smart enough to report the initial sighting of the Jeep.
Ann English
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 11:19 p.m.
Eight pins are on the map, but none indicate any street named Oakhills; no search engine tells me where we have a street by that name, or Oak Hills.
Ann English
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 12:38 a.m.
BHarding, I did zoom in; it's the 1500 block of Newport that isn't indicated by a pin. I didn't expect one burglary location to be that close to Newport.
BHarding
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 12:26 a.m.
Look again. Zoom in.
stevek
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 11:16 p.m.
Shocked to read she is homegrown from Ypsi Twp.
LXIX
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 11:03 p.m.
do you take for this woman to be your lawn-running weeded wife For richer or poorer, in car or incarcerated, living la vida loca till the judge does his part .If so just exchange some of those hot rings with each other okay, we now pronounce you convict 121116 and 121117 and at this time you may kiss it all goodby
djacks24
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 10:33 p.m.
Career criminals obviously. Both on parole/probation violations non the less while on their spree. Let them spend the rest of their lives in prison.
nickcarraweigh
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 10:15 p.m.
The movie rights won't bring much, but maybe it's more nefarious than it sounds. The authorities did invest a couple months' time, which is plenty.
seldon
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 9:50 p.m.
So, what's the distinction between a "home invasion" and a "burglary"? I always thought that "home invasion" meant that they'd entered a house while the occupants were present and threatened them. These events sound more like they broke in while people weren't home and took stuff, which I'd always thought of as a "burglary".
quetzalcoatl
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
Any legislator who can cross the street without assistance can pass a law against burglary, but it takes someone on the side of Truth, Justice and The American Way to stand up against Home Invasion. New wine in old bottles, seldon.
treetowncartel
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 9:44 p.m.
She's crafty, she gets around...
Jon Wax
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 9:36 p.m.
HA! they named their son Wendy. Peace
HB11
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.
I just spit out my coffee!
Ann English
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 12:44 a.m.
The only man I have known of whom people called Wendy is the late Wendell Bagwell. With his aunt and mother (who were called The Sunliters), they performed for musical albums. He couldn't sing but always got the speaking parts of their songs.
Tlmk75
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 9:04 p.m.
Oh wow! I know her! Didn't strike me as that type of person! Wow!
smokeblwr
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 8:58 p.m.
Neck tattoo. Classy and elegant.
actionjackson
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 7:13 p.m.
Of course. Just pointing out the "all or nothing" in some folks perspective. Neck tattoos are not my thing either.
d_a2
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 4:45 p.m.
@action. Prince = the exception. I agree with the rest of you
actionjackson
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 3:38 p.m.
Prince Fielder = negative income????
Nicole B.
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
Neck tattoos are popular in jails and prisons. I assume anyone with such a tattoo was incarcerated at some point.
HB11
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
@Seriously??, I have to agree on smokeblwr on this one. I also judge neck and facial tattoos. You may be a good guy, salt-of-the-earth and all that garbage, but you will not get the benefit of the doubt from me first because of a neck tattoo. Just sayin'.
smokeblwr
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 1:14 p.m.
I do. Neck tattoos are pretty easy to judge somebody by. Sorry, you have an uphill climb in life from here on out.
Seriously??
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 : 12:38 p.m.
Judge much?? If tattoos lead to crime I guess I should be in prison or on the run. Instead, I have a very nice job, home, family, and education. Judging others by their appearance is one of the most classless acts one can perform.
Gorc
Fri, Nov 16, 2012 : 11:30 p.m.
A neck tattoo screams limited income for the rest of someone's life time.