Columbia woman under arrest for stealing from neighbor

A Columbia woman is facing possible charges for reportedly stealing from her disabled neighbor.

Morgan Feutz worked as her home health aide. But over a month’s time, the victim noticed more things went missing and called police.

Police claim Feutz pawned jewelry worth more than $1,000.

Kim Walmsley said she’s only known Feutz and her family for a couple of months. She hired Feutz to come over once or twice a week to help with laundry, cleaning and pick up medications. She says Feutz even gave her references to more than one home health agency she worked for in the past.

Around the beginning of August, Walmsley started to notice small things going missing.

Kim Walmsley, Theft victim: “Family heirlooms, she took my mother’s wedding ring, she took my great-grandmother’s locket, she took my grand mother’s rings. You know, all of my family is dead now. And she took all that jewelry and she pawned it.”

Then at the end of August, Walmsley said she gave Feutz her debit card and asked her to pick up a prescription. She became suspicious when Feutz didn’t come back for three hours. She checked her bank account and noticed there were several charges on her card from a grocery store.

The next morning, she called her bank to freeze her card. She also filed fraud and theft charges with police. Walmsley said a full bottle of Vicodin and a book of checks were stolen as well.

She said the jewelry was worth much more to her than money.

Walmsley: “What would that do for her but get her a little bit of money? But that all was memories for me.”

Walmsley said out of everything that was taken, she only got back one necklace and one antique fork. Police told her they think the pawn shops melted down most of her jewelry.

Columbia Police arrested Feutz Thursday for felony stealing and a misdemeanor warrant for operating an unlicensed motor vehicle.

Feutz bonded out of jail for $4,700. At last check, charges have not yet been filed.