A mother and son arrested in Burke County last week and implicated in a multicounty crime spree are now believed to have robbed two Richmond County businesses.
Elizabeth Anne Rodriguez, 33, and her son Caleb Kennedy, 18, were arrested on burglary charges along with Lewis Eugene Smith Jr., 20. The arrests came after Ms. Rodriguez allegedly tried to cash stolen checks Friday at a Hephzibah bank.
Ms. Rodriguez and Mr. Smith are believed to have robbed the Subway on Peach Orchard Road and Super 8 Motel on Gordon Highway earlier this month, according to Richmond County Investigator Sean Cochran. They both face charges of armed robbery.
Their alleged crime spree, however, could stretch even further, because police have linked them to possible thefts in McDuffie, Columbia, Johnson and even Laurens County south of Macon.
For several weeks, authorities in Jefferson County had been looking for Ms. Rodriguez, of Wrens, and Mr. Smith, of Keysville, on outstanding warrants, according to Lt. Robert Chalker, of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.
Last Thursday, she was spotted walking down a rural road near the home of a former family friend, who noticed a knife sticking out of her backpack that resembled his own, Lt. Chalker said. She denied it was his.
"He goes on in his house and realized he'd been burglarized," Lt. Chalker said. "There's guns missing, jewelry, the knife and checks."
The next day, workers at the Regions Bank in Hephzibah called the family friend to verify a $1,500 check Ms. Rodriguez was accused of trying to cash. Ms. Rodriguez was able to leave the scene before authorities arrived but was picked up later at a home in Burke County.
A search of a car revealed more checks from various counties, in addition to other items believed to be from burglaries in Jefferson County, according to authorities.
"We've got a lot of investigating to do still," Lt. Chalker said. "They're not admitting to everything, so we're having to do it the hard way."
Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Good observations by the victim of the buglary and also Regions Bank. These people that feel it is OK to take from others which is rightfully theirs are pathetic. Violent acts such as robbing the Subway Store and Super 8 should place her behind bars for a VERY LONG TIME without parole. Any violent criminal no matter their sex, race, etc. deserves a very long time in jail.
This is a case where her son needs a break & needs some help becuase his mother has taught him to steal. How can he be an different.? His mother raised him this way. He is a victim also. Sure he's done some wrong but his mama make a thief out of him. Sad
Politicallyncorrect, you do make a valid point. However, adults must take responsibility for THEIR actions and most likely a few years in jail only to be released because his "mom made him do it" will just be a time bomb ticking until his next criminal act which may result in an innocent persons death, his death or the death of a police officer. Commit violent acts of robbery and you don't deserve to be a part of our society. Not condoning burglary or other crimes but they are certainly much less violent unless the person encounters the victim, even by accident. But, when you go into a business or home and your arm yourself to take from them that which is rightfully theirs, you shouldn't have any more rights or opportunities aforded to you.
Bring back the chain gang and put that gal and her rotton kids out digging and cleanng. Hard labor for a few years. Merry Yule Tide.
As It Is Son needs a break! Look, it takes twenty or more years to raise a decent kid and sometimes even the best parents fail. These kids are from bad seeds and have been raised by trash. You cannot rehab this. Best to brun them up and lock them up for a long long time. Maybe they will get snuffed out in prison. support www.hongkongaugustaga.org Merry Yule Tide.
politicallyncorrect ...Sad, NOT,,,ho ho ho what a wonderful christmas present to get this trash out of society. Merry Yule Tide.
Their is another woman who is party to sellling crack who is on section 8. She also has smalll children. She needs to be dealth with as the ugly criminal that she is:What I am about to write is comming from a police report (08-256342) (public information)On Dec 19th their was a durg bust at 1711 Walker St. The single mother who lives there gets the rent paid through section 8. Two cocane dealers, Zertaur Alexis Gough and Jamal Khalil Gough who live at 1908 Battle Row were arrested at 1711 Walker St.. This is the second time there was a drug bust there. Still this no account mother gets section 8. This kind of trash is common to the section 8 program. Many of the young welfare mothers have thug dead beat drug dealers living with them. Augusta Housing Authourity officials care less. We need to put an end to a lot of this garbage:http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/memphis-crime
The incompetent "management" of government subsidy programs precipitates as many problems (or more) as it alleviates.
Mother and Son (and friend?) went on a crime spree. Well, Merry Christmas to ya IN JAIL! Way to go 'former family friend' for calling attention to these people and helping to get them off the streets!
Now that's sad!
SergeantMidTown, that's a good article.
No I don't and it's a fact tall2 you know this back track on past articles, I see it for what it is.
Ok even though I have not been "convicted" in my spirit about posting this FACT, I will. The very next article involving an African American in this lite, I will mention to you these words: "See tall2, this article has more post since it's involving..."
Thank you Jack. And the very best of Christmas wishes from my family to yours.
"All we are saying, is give peace a chance" - John Lennon
As for the FACT you bring up: I actually agree. No proof is needed upon your part. Reading your posts, you portray yourself as a devout Christian. I call upon Jesus who resides in your heart to inspire you to be an active part of the solution. In this season when we celebrate the birth of Christ (as opposed to his birthday), we must all concentrate on the good of man, however hard it is to find.
And May God continue to Bless you in all your endeavors in life tall2.
tall2... Don't blame jack!! The fact is whites on this site have a terrible opinion of blacks. Blacks are targets for racial insults on this site even if you choose to ignore how prevalent it is. These same people that bash blacks have little or nothing to say about whites doing the exact same crimes. Jump over read the two posts about the white guy that killed his cousin and set the house on fire. Had that guy been black, you know da** well Augusta's white racist would have run out of the closet to make their hatred known. The funny thing is I am being called a racist for calling them out on it.
SargeantMidtown.... I just have a hard time believing you are African American. I respect your stance that you want your community to prosper, but your racial attacks and insults concern me. If blacks make you this upset in the neighborhood, why don't you move to some those Columbia county neighborhoods that are putting forth the same effort as you to keep blacks out?
Well cparker I will say this about his post today (most I scan through and SHRUG at), he is not prejudice towards his comments of these three. He basically calls them the same as he does the others who are beneath him or being assisted by the government. He has continuity.
cp: I don't think the difference is skin color. I think it's educational level. As I've posted before, I was raised in a "black" neighborhood and to this day most of my dearest friends are minorities, well educated minorities. NOT ONE of my friends agree with ANY of the bigots. To a person, they make the same statement: "I had to get thru school, I had to get a job, I had to go to work in order to get where I wanted to be." From reading the bigoted posts by both races, it's obvious the bigots have no education. As for you, I KNOW you're part of the solution from our previous conversations. Blaming Jack? I was hoping upon hope that maybe just one time we could all agree these worthless criminals arrested above need to be harshly dealt with, without anyone calling race into the question. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
To whom it may concern: I am not left or right wing. I am not GOP or DEM. I am not pro-life, nor pro-abortion. I am 100% pro-responsibility. Each individual in America, regardless of race, sex, or religion is responsible for their station in life. "If it is to be, it's up to me" is what I live by.
Jack: I have more blessings in this Earthly life than any man could ever desire. All credit to Jesus, for I am but the clay.
tall2.... The difference is not color to you. Just because you have the ability to view things for what they are doesn't mean you can give people like SargeantMidtown the same credit or rationale. SargeantMidtown is truly a black racist.
The mother is 33 and the son is 18, which means that the mother was only 15 when she gave birth to him. However, I do not see any of the normal comments about 'children having children."
cparker Well, when we run the trash out of Augusta they might end up in Columbia county. If things keep going the way that they are going it will not be too long. Read this: http: //www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/memphis-crime
Cparker...I have not made any racial attacks. What are you talking about ?
Look at this WHITE Trash! These people are disgusting. Amazing how PEOPLE, white or black still wont go earn a living the right way and just leach off the hardworking citizens. Merry Christmas and don't drop the soap.
CP: It takes an educated person to be able to see past what's fed to the masses as truth and be able to make their own choices. As for Sarge... I applaud his intent, but disdain his method. I'd sing the praises of Harrisburg to entice change, not disparage the needy.
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