by Abigail Roberts
Stephanie Newton was already grieving the loss of her mother, who she laid to rest Friday, when she found herself dealing with a burglary at her mother’s home later that night.
The investigation revealed that not only was the home in the Geneva-McKinney area burglarized, but a close friend of the family was involved.
Newton said after burying her mother, Paula Terry, she was too heartbroken to stay at the home Friday night, so her daughter went to put up surveillance cameras.
“30 minutes after they left someone was breaking in,” Newton said.
Newton contacted the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the video surveillance was posted on Facebook asking the public to help identify the subjects.
The investigation led to the arrest of three people including Vaughn Jones, 49, and Deodric Nealy, 33, both of Danville, along with Leanna King, 42, of Hustonville.
Newton said King was considered a family friend and neighbor to Newton’s mother.
“She was momma’s friend,” Newton said. “She would pick up medicine for mom when she had gotten too sick to go and (she) does some kind of Home Health. Mom had signed up for Leanna to be her caretaker so I could get a break, but the waiting list is long and never got the chance.”
Newton said the betrayal was a painful realization.
“She knew how sick momma was. She also knew I had been staying there just to be in momma’s bed and hug her pillows to grieve before it’s all gone and packed away,” Newton said. “I guess that’s what hurts the most. I was sharing my grief and pain with her and she planned all this out.”
Newton said all of her mother’s medicine was stolen, along with jars of change and two laptops.
All three were charged with second-degree burglary. Jones was also charged with theft by unlawful taking of a controlled substance. King was charged with complicity to the burglary and the theft by unlawful taking of a controlled substance.
Jones and Nealy are currently lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.
King has been lodged in the Casey County Detention Center.
Deputy Aaron Steele is the lead investigator and he was assisted by Deputy Dustin Phillips, Deputy Austin Price, CSO James Cunnagin, and SPD Officer Jonathan Milburn.
Newton said the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office did an amazing job.
“Jamie Cunnigan is a family friend since we were kids and my momma called him her own,” Newton said. “It was nice to know they loved momma too.”
