DNA leads to suspects in attempted vending machine robbery – MLive.com

GRAYLING TOWNSHIP, MI DNA found on a pair of eyeglasses led Michigan State Police to suspects who allegedly attempted to steal money from a vending machine that benefits legally blind people, authorities said.

The attempted theft caused an estimated $5,000-worth of damage to the vending machine. As money had recently been collected, there was about $30 in the machine at the time.

All vending machines at State of Michigan Rest Areas and Welcome Centers are owned by the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons; the proceeds benefit legally blind people in Michigan.

During the early hours of Aug. 3, troopers from the MSP Houghton Lake Post were called to the rest area on I-75 near mile marker 252 in Grayling Township. The complainant reported that two people were attempting to break into a vending machine. The suspects fled before troopers arrived.

Troopers reviewed surveillance footage and observed two people attempting to break into the vending machine for an hour. Each person would take turns as a lookout while the other would continue to attempt to break in.

Around 2:15 a.m., another vehicle entered the rest area and the suspects fled. They left behind several items including bolt cutters and eyeglasses. Troopers collected the items and processed the crime scene. Latent prints were lifted, footwear impressions were photographed and evidence was sent to the MSP Crime Lab for analysis.

The MSP Crime Lab obtained a DNA sample from the eyeglasses. The DNA profile was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and a match was found: 46-year-old Heather Jean Briseno, of Ishpeming. Troopers examined a Michigan Secretary of State image of Briseno and compared it to the person in the surveillance footage; it appeared to be the same person.

A report was turned over to the Crawford County Prosecutors Office and an arrest warrant was authorized. Briseno was arrested on Dec. 11 and lodged at Crawford County Jail.

Police continued to investigate to identify the second suspect. Body cam footage from an interaction with Gaylord City Police on the same night as the attempted theft implicated 43-year-old Abby Lorraine Nardi, of Ishpeming, as the other person involved.

A few hours after the vending machine crime, Gaylord police officers were called to a gas station for two people passed out in a vehicle. Officers found Briseno and Nardi asleep. Nardi was arrested for a separate incident. Briseno was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Body came footage from the officer showed Nardi wearing the same clothing as the suspect in the surveillance video from the rest area.

A second report was sent to the prosecutors office and an arrest warrant was authorized for Nardi. Nardi was arrested in Marquette County in January and transported to Crawford County Jail.

Nardi was arraigned on Tuesday, Feb. 15, in the 46th District Court in Crawford County for one count of malicious destruction of property over $1,000 but less than $20,000, and one count of breaking and entering a coin-operated device.

Briseno was arraigned on Dec. 13 in the 46th District Court in Crawford County for one count of malicious destruction of property over $1,000 but less than $20,000, and one count of breaking and entering a coin-operated device.

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DNA leads to suspects in attempted vending machine robbery - MLive.com