Quick thinking police work pinpoints burglars
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Being at the right place at the right time can pay off in different ways if one has his thinking cap on. Carroll County Sheriff Detective Steve Mullin tries to wear his thinking cap at all times. That philosophy worked out well for him, a rural crime victim and the sheriff's department last week. The thinking cap concept did not work so well for a young couple who currently resides in the White County Jail however.

Marrissa N. Wampler, 19, and her husband Tylor L. Wampler, 20, of Monticello were arrested by warrant Nov. 30 for a Nov. 14 daytime burglary at the Thomas Armstrong residence in northwestern Carroll County.

After viewing a video of the couple inside the Oaklawn School in Monticello, an officer was able to identify the couple from a previous police encounter with them. They were arrested and booked into the White County Jail.

Mullin was called to assist with the investigation. During interviews with the alleged perpetrators, Mullin said he asked them casually if they ever committed any crimes in Carroll County. They confessed to burglarizing the Thomas Armstrong residence.

The couple said they randomly selected the Armstrong home to hit. Items taken included money, guns and a safe. According to the Wamplers after the safe was opened, it was dumped into Lake Freeman at Tioga Bidge on the White/Carroll county line.

The safe was recovered from the lake Thursday.

"It was different finding a husband and wife team with the mindset of breaking into places and taking things," Mullin said Tuesday. "That was a strange twist."

Mullin said after the couple satisfies legal obligations in White County, they will be brought to Carroll County to face charges.