A North Carolina woman has been tracked down and arrested after allegedly stealing the vehicle of a man who let her stay the night at his home at Recreation Plantation in Lady Lake.
On Oct. 2, 2024, an officer with the Lady Lake Police Department responded to the RV park at the intersection of County Road 466 and Rolling Acres Road regarding a stolen motor vehicle, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The man said that his gray 2012 Nissan Murano had been stolen from the residence by a woman, later identified as 39-year-old Massie Carroll Williams.
The man further explained that on the night of Oct. 1, 2024, he stopped at a gas station near the intersection of U.S. 301 and County Road 484 in Marion County. While there, he was approached by the woman, who identified herself as “Madison Williams,” traveling with a small dog, the affidavit said.
Williams told the man she was from Georgia and had been abandoned at the gas station with no means of travel or monetary funds. He took pity on her and offered to drive her to his residence until she could make other arrangements. They later arrived at his residence, and she promptly fell asleep for the night, the affidavit said.
The following morning, the man told Williams he was not permitted to have long-term guests at the residence, and she would need to leave as soon as she could. She agreed and seemingly began getting ready to leave, the affidavit said.
While the man was outside his residence, he saw Williams go inside, take his cell phone and keys, and get into his vehicle. She drove away in his vehicle despite his protests and without his consent or authorization. He quickly called law enforcement for assistance, the affidavit said.
On Oct. 3, 2024, a Lady Lake police detective reviewed the report and began investigating. He learned the victim’s vehicle had been recovered in the early morning hours that day by the Byron, Ga. Police Department, and impounded by a towing company, the affidavit said.
The detective called an investigator at the Byron Police Department and asked for details of the recovery. He was advised that a traffic stop had been conducted on the stolen vehicle, and Williams had been arrested for theft by receiving property from out of state. She was then turned over to the Peach County Jail in Georgia, the affidavit said.
The detective called the towing company that had the vehicle and asked about its condition. It was in seemingly good shape, the affidavit said.
The man was later shown a photo of Williams and immediately identified her as the offender, the affidavit said.
Williams was brought back to Florida on Jan. 28, to be served with a Lake County warrant charging her with grand theft of motor vehicle. She was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $2,500.