TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Calls from an incarcerated man to a girlfriend as well as video of a woman visiting him led to the arrest of a Terre Haute woman for charges related to the robbery of Old National Bank.
A probable cause affidavit filed in the case against Erica Demeyer, 46, who faces a felony charge of robbery following her arrest by Terre Haute Police, reveals details into the investigation.
According to police, Demeyer entered Old National Bank in the 2400 block of Poplar Street on Wednesday, December 20, wearing a blond wig under a beanie style hat. Demeyer then reportedly handed the teller a note stating “Act normal, money now no alarms or he will kill me hurry up.”
Police said after the teller gave Demeyer a stack of bait money with a trackable GPS money band, the woman left the building, and began to flee on foot. The bank informed police the suspect had left with $460 in cash.
Police then found the beanie hat as well as the blonde wig and the blue sweatshirt that Demeyer had been seen wearing in a trash can in the alley between 23rd and 24th streets south of Poplar. Police said they also received security footage of a dark haired woman running south in the same area shortly after the suspect had fled the bank from a 23rd street residence.
Following detectives canvassing the area and talking to nearby residents it was learned that an incarcerated man, Kyle Akers, had told a relative that he knew where the suspect was located and would tell police if they let him out of jail.
Police instead then looked at Vigo County Jail phone records and determined that Akers had reportedly been talking to Demeyer for some time, referring to her as his girlfriend and telling her to leave town as the police had been to their house following the robbery.
Investigators also accessed video footage of a visit Demeyer made to Akers where she was seen modelling a blonde wig that matched the one recovered from the alley trash can.
“Affiant searched for phone calls prior to the robbery and discovered Kyle talking about how good his girlfriend, Erica, looks as a blonde.”
Probable Cause Affidavit filed in Vigo County Court
In a call between the two following the robbery, Demeyer reportedly told Akers that they had $460 in the bank, which detectives noted was the exact amount taken from Old National Bank.
Demeyer was then arrested on Tuesday and taken to the Vigo County Jail. Court records indicate she is being held on a $15,000 bond with no 10% allowed.
During an initial hearing held Wednesday, Judge Michael J. Lewis reduced Demeyer’s bond amount to $15,000 with 10% allowed. Court records show that Demeyer is next due in court for a hearing on January 3, 2024.
