An Indiana woman has been charged with felony robbery after authorities say she targeted an elderly casino patron in a parking lot outside Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino earlier this month.
“I Will Kill You”
According to court documents filed in Madison County, 42-year-old A.S. was arrested after investigators linked her to an alleged robbery attempt that took place on July 5 at the popular gaming and horse racing venue in Anderson, Indiana, US.
Prosecutors say that S. hang around in the casino parking lot prior to approaching an 88-year-old woman and her daughter as they were making their way through the property.
S. allegedly demanded the elderly woman to give her her purse and threatened both women during the encounter.
Court records cited by local media state that Smith allegedly told the pair, “I will use it. I will kill you,” while indicating that she had a firearm.
What happened next was not what the suspect may have expected. Despite the frightening situation, the 88-year-old woman and her daughter reportedly fought back. Investigators say the two women resisted Smith’s attempts to take the purse, forcing her to abandon the robbery and flee the scene.
Up to Six Years in Prison
Casino surveillance footage, like in many other cases, proved critical to the investigation. While cameras did not capture a license plate, detectives could identify a few distinctive details about the vehicle, including that it was a silver Chevrolet Malibu missing its fuel door.
The woman’s physical description was also shared with nearby agencies, and she was eventually located during a traffic stop on July 18.
Smith has been charged with fifth-degree robbery, which could bring her a potential prison sentence of up to six years and fines of up to $10,000.
Prosecutors are also trying to have S. designated as a habitual offender, something typically reserved for individuals with multiple prior felony convictions. This could significantly increase any sentence that the court might impose.
According to court files, S. had been previsouly stopped by police for traffic violations a few hours before the alleged casino incident. During the interaction, the officer who stopped her reportedly noticed a firearm inside her vehicle.
Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, owned by Caesars Entertainment, is located about 30 miles northeast of Indianapolis and features horse racing, table games, slot machines, and a sportsbook.