Woman dead after bail bond extortion attempt

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WCMH) -- A woman from the Franklin County area is dead after she was allegedly part of a bail bond theft attempt in Clark County.

According to the Clark County Sheriff's Office, the woman, who has not been identified, was shot Monday by a resident on the 7000 block of South Charleston-Clifton Road after she showed up at the man's home while he was on the telephone with someone attempting to extort money from him.

The man, 86, answered a telephone call from someone he did not know, telling the man that a relative was in the Clark County Jail and that the man had to pay cash for the relative's bail. The sheriff's office said this information was a lie and an attempt to swindle the man out of money.

At some point while the man was on the telephone, the woman arrived on his property and contacted the resident. During that contact, the man pulled a handgun and shot her several times, the sheriff's office said. The man then went back into his home, secured the gun, and called 911.

Madison Township and Cedarville Fire EMS tended to the woman, who was flown to Miami Valley Hospital for treatment, but later died in surgery, the sheriff's office said.

The resident, who sustained cuts to his head and ear, was treated at the hospital and released. Police did not say how he sustained the injuries.

The woman's identity is being withheld pending the notification of next of kin. The sheriff's office only said she was from the Franklin County area.

The sheriff's office said in a statement that no law enforcement agency or court will contact the public in this manner to solicit money for bail or other law enforcement function.