Suspect in Scott day-care case returned to Virginia

Duct tape, toys, candy and a duffel bag were found in the car driven by a woman arrested Saturday who was wanted in Scott County, Va., on charges of stalking and attempted child abduction, Church Hill, Tenn., Police Chief Mark Johnson said.
Patricia Truckenmiller Lefler, 43, of Zionville, N.C., was arrested about 8:30 a.m. Saturday when a Church Hill officer noticed a car matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle, Johnson said. She was arraigned Monday in Hawkins County Sessions Court in Rogersville.
On Tuesday, Lefler was transported from the Hawkins County Regional Jail to the Duffield Regional Jail in Scott County.
Scott County Sheriff John Puckett said the woman has been walking into day-care centers in Scott County since Nov. 19, pretending to be a parent wanting to enter a child into the various schools. But each time school staff asked for specific information, she left, he said.
“An investigator that talked with her said she admitted she was the one going around to the day-care centers,” Puckett said. “We have no motive, but we know we have the lady. She told us she has a 3-year-old child and that the father is somewhere in North Carolina. It’s been hard, because she doesn’t want to tell us much about them.”
Puckett said specific details of Lefler’s actions at day-care centers in Scott County would not be revealed because the investigation and evidence-gathering process is under way.
“She will be charged tonight [Tuesday], and she also has pending charges here on identity theft,” he said. “She will have a hearing in Scott County General District Court, but I can’t say when that will be. There will be no more court until next week, and I’m pretty sure no bond will be set.”
Charges also are pending against Lefler in Scott County alleging identity theft and in Smyth County alleging breaking and entering, Puckett said.
Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Keith Elton said Tuesday that Lefler also has warrants on charges of using “bad checks and possibly forgery” in Kingsport. Elton could not say when those warrants would be served.
On Thursday, following a call about a woman lurking in a hallway at State Street United Methodist Church’s Spring Garden Preschool in Bristol, Va., the Scott County Sheriff’s Office released a photograph, possible names and a North Carolina license plate number belonging to the woman they said had visited several Scott County day care centers.
But the information the office released identifying the suspect as Christine Miller or Christine A. Richardson, was incorrect, Puckett said.
“Miller’s identification was distributed because Lefler had been using her identity,” Puckett said. “And we’re still investigating, but it looks like Lefler and Miller may be acquainted.”
Bristol Virginia Police Department Capt. Maynard Ratcliff said Thursday that investigators identified the woman who caused the scare in Bristol as the same person sought in Scott County.
On Monday, after the arrest was announced, Sharon Wright, the church’s assistant pastor and a Spring Garden parent, expressed her relief.
“I heard that she was apprehended Sunday while I was at church,” Wright said. “We’re all very thankful for the authorities’ actions.”
Johnson said Church Hill Public Safety Officer Chip Whitaker spotted the vehicle Saturday morning, on Holston Mills Road in Church Hill.
“Even though the name and photograph of the suspect were incorrect, Whitaker felt like he had the right person all along,” Johnson said.
Records show that Lefler had several North Carolina addresses since 2006 and was found guilty in that state this year on charges of check fraud, credit card fraud, forgery and misdemeanor larceny, according to Accurint.
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