A Lakeview woman was arrested early Monday, April 7, after a bizarre incident involving claims of kidnapping, a potentially missing cold and exposure to the cold.
Deputies from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched around 2:56 a.m. to the 9500 block of Cottage Grove Avenue in Lakeview after a resident reported a suspicious person on her front porch. The caller told dispatchers a woman was sitting outside with no shoes or coat, claiming she had been kidnapped and dropped off.
When deputies arrived, they found Debra J. Ambos-Hensley, 69, of Lakeview, sitting in a chair on the porch, wearing a jacket provided by the resident. Hensley told deputies she had been kidnapped in the Caribbean, had her wallet and false teeth taken and was then dropped off in Lakeview.
Deputies noted that Ms. Hensley was unsteady on her feet and had visible injuries, including a cut on her left elbow and another on her foot. Her pants were wet, and she appeared to have been walking in the cold conditions for some time without shoes.
She agreed to be checked by Indian Lake EMS and was evaluated inside an ambulance. Medics and the deputy both noted the strong odor of alcohol coming from her. However, Hensley was able to answer basic questions and declined to be taken to the hospital.
She told deputies she lived alone and said she had a couple of cocktails around 5 p.m., then later claimed she had a drink with her daughter that morning.
Due to concerns for her safety and her inability to care for herself, Hensley was arrested for disorderly conduct. She was taken to her residence first so it could be secured. While retrieving her keys, phone, and purse—as requested—the deputy observed three empty liquor bottles in a trash can and a glass containing a brown liquid resembling alcohol on a bedroom table.
Ms. Hensley also asked the deputy to check on her dog, which could not be located inside the home. She stated she may have gone out searching for it.
After securing the home, the deputy transported Ms. Hensley to the Logan County Jail, where she was lodged for disorderly conduct.