Weird Christmas flashback: Ruth Wagner uses stolen Christmas ornament to stab pursuer
Five years ago comes a strange, strange story of a thief turned stabbing suspect. Yes, a woman steals a Christmas ornament, but when the merchant notices and chases, the woman stabs the vendor — so bad, that it required surgery.
Read the details below, originally published this day in 2011.
From Connecticut, police report that Ruth Wagner stole a sea shell Christmas ornament/pin and then stabbed a shopper trying to stop her getaway, with the very object she just stole.
Santa’s naughty list just added a name.
Southington Police Department Report:
Wagner was arrested after it was alleged that she stole multiple items at a Christmas Craft Fair at the Aqua Turf and when fleeing the scene, Wagner stabbed a victim in the arm with a Christmas Ornament.
The vendor became suspicious of Wagner, because a piece of jewelry went missing near where the 55-year-old browsed on Sunday, The Hartford Courant reports.
The merchant then saw Wagner allegedly swipe a seashell ornament and yelled for others in the crowd to apprehend her, according to The Courant.
A fragment broke from the ornament and left a wound serious enough that the victim needed surgery, The Courant says.
Sgt. Lowell DePalma says Wagner and the victim were attending a Christmas fair at the Aqua Turf, a local banquet hall, on Sunday when the attack occurred.
“An officer spoke to one of the vendors who saw [Wagner] lingering by her table. [Wagner] seemed suspicious and the vendor noticed several items missing from her booth.” DePalma said.
According to DePalma, Wagner escaped in her vehicle, but witnesses were able to spot her license plates, which ultimately helped police locate and arrested the woman.
The victim was transported via ambulance to Bradley Memorial Hospital where she was treated and released, police say.
Wagner was arrested later Sunday afternoon and charged with first degree larceny, second degree assault, first degree reckless endangerment, second degree breach of the peace and sixth degree larceny.
She posted $100,000 bail and was released, according to Southington Police Department documents.
Photo Brandon Jones
