ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 21, 1997 TAG: 9702210091
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS
A woman suspected of charging more than $31,000 on at least a dozen credit accounts in the name of a dead woman has been arrested and charged with credit card fraud, theft and forgery, police said.
Deborah Jenkins, 40, of Newport News faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted.
The investigation began after Peter Armitage, the brother of Ann Armitage, received a call about a month ago saying his sister's account at one store was delinquent. Ann Armitage died of cancer last April in New Jersey.
``I said, `If my sister is using the card, it's a miracle. She's been cremated and there's not much left of her,''' said Armitage, who lives in Doylestown, Pa.
Jenkins, who was arrested last Friday, was a worker in the hospice where Ann Armitage stayed before she died at age 56. Jenkins was the only nurse to attend the funeral, Armitage said.
Detective Frank S. Nowak Jr. said Jenkins apparently obtained enough personal information about Ann Armitage to successfully apply for credit cards in her name.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 32 linesby CNB