Police: Crime spree suspects a 'modern-day Bonnie and Clyde' - New Castle News

A couple police are calling “a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde” are in the Lawrence County jail after an alleged multi-day crime spree.

Brandy Mae Rumbold, 38, of Ellwood City and Tyler Michael Cory Amos, 25, of Cochranton, are being held on $250,000 bond each. A third suspect, Donald McClain, 45, who police say has connections in Ellwood City, Wampum, Beaver, Mercer and Crawford counties, remains at large.

The three are accused in a Saturday burglary and assault in Perry Township, in which two men were robbed and beaten severely. The suspects later committed another burglary in Cranberry Township, Butler County, and stole multiple vehicles before being tracked to Cadiz, Ohio.

At a press conference Monday morning at the Butler station of the Pennsylvania State Police, Lt. Eric Hermick characterized Rumbold and Amos as a boyfriend and girlfriend who are addicted to and manufacture methamphetamine. He also noted the “significant blood and violence” of the crime scene.

“Knowing what we did, and that they had loaded weapons, we did not expect this to end very well,” Hermick said.

He added that police have reason to believe the trio’s crime spree began Wednesday night or Thursday in Crawford County, extended to Mercer and Lawrence counties and ended in Ohio. He added that Ohio officials also plan to file charges against the two.

According to criminal complaints filed in Lawrence County, Rumbold and Amos faces 36 charges including attempted criminal homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, four counts of kidnapping, burglary, eight counts of robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of theft, recklessly burning or exploding property valued at more than $5,000, two counts of criminal mischief, two counts of terroristic threats, two counts of unlawful restraint resulting in serious bodily injury, six counts of simple assault, accommodation, person of interest, making repairs, selling offensive weapons and criminal trespass. Amos also is charged with driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

McClain faces charges of burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, possession of firearm prohibited and six counts of conspiracy.

Hermick said police first learned of the alleged spree when they received a 911 call Saturday morning of a burglary in progress at Cable Hardwoods on Route 488 in Perry Township. He said Rumbold, Amos and McClain were viewed on surveillance breaking into the sawmill about 6:33 a.m. By the time the owner — Jeff Cable, 60 — arrived about 8:33 a.m., the officer said, the three intruders had come, gone and returned again.

Hermick said the business is usually closed on Saturday, but the owner came by to get something and interrupted the burglary. He said Cable, seeing the weapons, tried to leave but someone shot at him, possibly disabling his vehicle. He said Cable was taken inside and kicked, punched and beaten with a baseball bat. About that time, police said, Cable’s 84-year-old father-in-law, Roy Magell, showed up to feed Cable’s cats, but he too was severely beaten. He said both men tried to fight back, noting that they saw bruises on Rumbold when she was apprehended.

Hermick said he has no doubt that Amos and Rumbold thought that they had killed Cable, who was able to get away and summon help.

He noted that Cable had been taken to UPMC Jameson Hospital then to the trauma unit of Allegheny General Hospital.

He said police have “horrific” surveillance of “a violent, out of control” event fueled by methamphetamine and several days without sleep or food.

Hermick said Rumbold and Amos left, stealing Cable’s car and embarking on a crime spree that saw them take cars and loaded guns from locations in Cranberry Township. Police tracked them to Cadiz, Ohio. Working with local deputies from the sheriff’s office, they captured Rumbold. Amos fled to the woods. He was apprehended Sunday “without incident or bite,” Hermick said, noting that K-9 units were used in the search.

McClain, who police said had been an employee of Cable’s business, is believed to have assisted in planning and executing the crime. However, officers said, he “bugged out” when the sawed-off shot gun was fired at Cable. Hermick said McClain “is known to be a violent man involved in the methamphetamine trade in Lawrence County.”

Hermick said he faces the same charges as the other two, and is believed to be dangerous.

Since being taken into custody, Hermick said, both Rumbold and Amos have been cooperative, admitting their involvement in five events under investigation and telling police of seven as-yet unreported crimes. He added that they recalled the event and specifics of the event.

“We have physical evidence and video surveillance, evidence of them stealing and burning vehicles.”

Police also spoke of a 10-year-old child belonging to Rumbold. who had not been seen by family or grandparents for two weeks. They said Rumbold has asked family members for money to get the child back, causing them to believe the child was being held somewhere for ransom.

He said the little girl was recovered, is fine, and has been reunited with her grandparents.

n_lowry@ncnewsonline.com

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