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DNA Evidence On Cigarette Butt Lands Duo In Jail
September 27, 2013
DNA evidence from a cigarette butt has landed two local residents behind bars on burglary and other charges.
Fred Carlton Ward, age 45 of Hanks Road in Century, and Phyllis Ann Ward, age 49 of Rigby Road in Walnut Hill, were both charged with felony grand theft, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and criminal mischief with property damage after they were implicated in an August 2012 business burglary.
An employee of Green Tree Services at 2461 West Highway 4 reported a burglary from business property, which was vacant and in foreclosure. The employee reported the front door of the building had been kicked in and the central heating and air unit and air handler worth $8,000 had been stolen. Investigators determined that the exterior air unit had been dismantled, and a cigarette butt was found next to the remains of the unit.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office submitted the cigarette butt to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a DNA profile test. A laboratory report from FDLE matched DNA profiles on the cigarette butt to both Phyllis and Fred Ward.
The business employee told deputies neither Ward had even been employed by Green Tree Services and had never had a reason to be on the property. Both Wards were also reported to have sold air conditioning parts to Advanced Environmental Recycling in Flomaton in August 2012, just days after the reported burglary. And both Wards, according to an arrest report, have prior histories involving burglaries and recycling stolen air conditioning parts and copper.
Phyllis Ward was arrested for the crime in early July. She was released from jail on a $17,500 bond, pleaded not guilty on August 8 and is awaiting an October trial date. Fred Ward was arrested Wednesday and remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $22,500.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office did not specify the relationship, if any, between Fred Ward and Phyllis Ward.
Comments
18 Responses to “DNA Evidence On Cigarette Butt Lands Duo In Jail”
Repeat offenders of selling stolen A/C parts! Maybe these thieves need to be treated like sex offfenders who cannot be rehabilitated. Don’t let them come near a recycling facility for the rest of their lives.
@special person: umm, it IS our buisness when it’s on a PUBLIC news website. And like Pineville stated, HER DNA was also on the cigarette. So, that means SHE was at the scene of the crime also. Even if she didn’t lift a finger to steal the equiptment, she STILL broke the law simply by being present at the scene of a felony. AND, she had a prior history of theft, so I have zero sympathy for this lady, cancer or not.
They need money so bad they are willing to steal from others yet they can still afford to buy cigarettes. Just a thought.
Another good reason not to smoke! LOL! He must’ve been in the system already or they had to go get a DNA sample to test.
A Special Person: The DNA shows she had been puffing a cigarette that was found at the seen of the crime, unless Freddie stole one from her ashtray and decided to finish smoking it at the crime scene, I would say she was at the crime scene also. That’s about all the facts the Law needs to have. Done Deal, no excuses. I remember her from way back in the day. Eventually the truth always comes out whether its good or bad.
William reports the FACTS he is given…good job!
for yals information if you knew the women in this you would know she has had breast cancer and is really weak. She could not have stoled that stuff. So all of yal need to keep your dang mouth shut! its none of your business anyhow! yal our a bunch of people that have nothing better to do than judge people and start gossip! Sorry to tell you but there is no gossip in heaven. who are yal to judge anyone anyhow! so before you make your little comment make sure you completely understand what is going on here! because Mr. Willam left out a bunch of the true facts!! So get your dang facts straight okay! k thanks BYE!
So sad they will not have cigarettes in prison.
New warning label on cigarette packages. “Smoking during the commission of a felony, could lead to your arrest.”
Sounds like the most boring episode of CSI ever. “Maybe now they’ll have some time to…cool off”…YEAAHHHH. Actually though, good police work.
I see a future say not to tobacco commercial in the future…bad for your record LOL
That is a Florida law excuse me. If the recycling company is in Alabama I am wrong about that!
And if the recycling company would have been following the law they would have never bought the ac from them anyhow. The law requires you have a proof of ownership or business license to sell ac material.
BWAHAAAAHAAAA! Hit ‘em both up for littering as well! Ya just can’t help stupid folks.
They are brother and sister. .
I know it takes a lot of effort to remove AC equipment; if only these thieves would use this effort to work an actual job!
See, those cigarettes are no good and will always lead to further problems!
Sounds like brilliant police/investigative work. Well done.