An employee of a local mortuary service was accused Friday of stealing a credit card from the body of Laura Newman, a popular cheerleader coach at Ashbrook High School who police say was killed by her husband in a murder suicide in October.
Newman’s body was robbed Oct. 20 while at King’s Mortuary Services, according to arrest warrants.
King’s Mortuary employee Michelle Lewis Leatherman, 33, of 1721 Yellowstone Court, Gastonia, is accused of stealing Newman’s Bank of America Visa card from her body and fraudulently using it to buy gasoline and online merchandise.
Leatherman used the card twice and attempted to use it two more times between Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, according to the warrant affidavit.
She used it once to buy $25 in gas at Fastop Market on North New Hope Road and again to pay for a $560 online order of equipment from the premium sound company Bose, the affidavit states. Leatherman then attempted to use the card for a gas purchase and tried to make an ATM withdrawal at Clemmers Country Store, 109 E. Hudson Blvd., the affidavit states.
Leatherman is charged with four counts of obtaining property under false pretense, four counts of identity theft and one count of financial card theft.
King’s Mortuary Services, located at 451 Hospital Drive, provides embalming and other services for area funeral homes.
Laura Newman and her husband, 45-year-old Randall Newman, were found dead in front of the Gastonia Police Department in the early morning hours of Oct. 17, 2010. Police say that Laura Newman was shot and killed by her husband, who then turned the gun on himself.
Laura Newman was a teacher assistant and cheerleading coach at Ashbrook High. She was also a bus driver for the girls’ basketball team.
The couple had two children: Lydia, 19, and Wade, 15.
An officer spotted a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe in the parking lot of the police department around 2:50 a.m. and noticed the car’s brake lights were activated, Gastonia Police Sgt. Jimmy Arndt said at the time. The officer found Randall and Laura Newman dead inside.
Arndt said the couple was last seen together around 11 p.m. on Oct. 16. at Hickory Tavern on Hoffman Road.
Randall Newman worked for Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement.
Leatherman was booked in Gaston County Jail on Friday on a $10,000 secured bond.
You can reach Wade Allen at 704-869-1828.
Article source: http://www.gastongazette.com/news/cheerleader-54114-mortuary-coach.html
Category: Identity Theft Watch