Winona Lake Woman Arrested After Stealing Checks From Dead Relative
Staff Report
Abigail Lee Pifer
WARSAW — A Winona Lake woman was arrested after allegedly stealing and forging checks from a deceased relative.
Abigail Lee Pifer, 46, 701 Robson Road, Winona Lake, is charged with forgery and theft, both level 6 felonies.
On May 15, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a theft at a residence. A woman said she was the executor of her father’s estate after he passed away a week prior.
According to court documents, the woman was informed the garage door to her father’s home was open. Two neighbors reported seeing unknown individuals at the residence.
The woman said she believed Pifer, who is identified as a relative to the woman and her deceased father, entered the home and took items without permission. Items stolen include a griddle, grill, and vinyl records.
On June 20, the officer was contacted by a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy about a stolen checkbook. The woman said a checkbook was stolen from her father’s home and she confirmed Pifer had used the stolen checks.
In a phone call on June 26, Pifer told the officer she cashed checks but claimed they were written to her by the deceased man prior to his passing. The call then ended abruptly.
On July 20, a Warsaw Police detective spoke with the woman, who said Pifer was never given permission to use the man’s checks for personal use. She believed Pifer stole the checkbook after going to the home on May 5 to help move a bed.
The detective attempted to interview Pifer at the Warsaw Police Department; however, Pifer canceled and rescheduled the interview twice, and failed to show up during the third interview attempt.
On Aug. 1, the woman met with the detective and provided copies of eight checks allegedly written by Pifer. The total value of the checks written by Pifer was $4,042.43. All of the checks were from the deceased man’s bank account and had his signature forged onto them. The forged checks were dated from May 5 to 17.
For this case, Pifer was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 8, with a $3,500 surety and cash bond.
