Diana Mirtala Mitchell had known Richard Krouse for only a month. But it didn’t stop her from claiming his belongings when he suddenly became ill, according to Cobb County police.
Krouse was struck by a brain aneurysm in December 2019 and was in the hospital for two months, Mitchell’s arrest warrant states. So Mitchell moved into his Kennesaw-area home.
“During the time of hospitalization, said accused moved into the victim’s home and began using the bank account belonging to the victim,” her arrest warrant states.
Mitchell, according to investigators, helped herself to $25,000 of Krouse’s money and used about $1,600 for a four-day Florida beach trip. But eventually, Krouse’s brother stepped in and contacted police.
After an arrest warrant was issued Friday, Mitchell was arrested Sunday and charged with theft by taking and three counts of identity theft, all felonies.
She was arrested at a Barrett Parkway apartment where she’s been living since forging Krouse’s name on the lease, according to police. When Mitchell moved into the apartment in April 2020, she called Cobb EMC, identified herself as Krouse and had the electricity switched from his home to her new home, her warrant states.
“When the contract was signed, the victim was in the hospital with no ability to sign the lease,” the warrant states.
Then, in July, Mitchell stole the man’s vehicle, a 2011 Lexus, according to police. Mitchell wrote Krouse’s name on the title as the seller on the vehicle and signed her own name as the purchaser, her warrant states. She then applied for and received a new title and registration for the car.
According to metro Atlanta jail records. Mitchell has an extensive arrest history in various counties.
In Clayton County, she was arrested in September 2019 on four counts of battery, but the charges were later dropped, court records show.
In March 2016, Mitchell was charged in Henry County with terroristic threats and harassing phone calls. She was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 40 hours of community service, according to court records.
Mitchell also has a criminal record in Gwinnett following an arrest in December 2015 on aggravated assault, battery and trespassing charges, jail records show. She pleaded guilty to trespassing and was sentenced to 12 months of probation, but the other charges were dropped, according to court records.
Following her latest arrest, Mitchell was released from the Cobb jail Monday after posting $35,000 bond.
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