GRAYLING – On August 3, 2021, troopers from the Michigan State Police (MSP)
Houghton Lake Post were called to the rest area located at I-75 near MM 252 in Grayling Township for an attempted larceny complaint. Someone had attempted to steal money from one of the vending machines inside the rest area.
All vending machines located in State of Michigan Rest Areas and Welcome Centers
are owned by the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons and the proceeds benefit legally blind persons in Michigan. The estimated damage to the machine was approximately $5,000. Money had been collected from the machine earlier and there was approximately $30 in the machine at the time of the attempted theft.
Troopers reviewed surveillance footage and observed two people attempting to gain access to the vending machine over the course of an hour. Each person would take turns as a lookout while the other would continue to attempt to access the vending machine.
At approximately 2:15 a.m. another vehicle entered the rest area and the suspects fled. They left behind several items including bolt cutters and eyeglasses. Troopers collected the items and processed the crime scene. Latent prints were lifted, footwear impressions photographed, and evidence sent to the MSP Crime Lab for analysis.
The MSP Crime Lab was able to obtain a DNA sample from the eyeglasses. The DNA indicated the person was a female. The DNA profile was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and a match was found. A suspect, 46-year-old Heather Jean Briseno from Ishpeming, was identified. Troopers examined a Secretary of State image of Briseno and compared it to the person seen in the surveillance footage. It appeared to be the same person.
A report was turned over to the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office and an arrest warrant was authorized. Briseno was arrested on December 11, 2021, and lodged in the Crawford County Jail. The continued investigation led to information implicating 43-year-old Abby Lorraine Nardi from Ishpeming as the other person involved.
The Gaylord City Police were called to a gas station in Gaylord a few hours after the crime occurred for a report of two persons passed out in a vehicle. Briseno and Nardi were found asleep inside the vehicle.
The Gaylord City Police Officer arrested Nardi for a separate incident and Briseno was transported to Munson Memorial Hospital for evaluation. Body cam footage from the Gaylord City Police Officer showed Nardi wearing the same clothing as the suspect at the rest area earlier.
Another report was turned over to the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office and an arrest warrant was authorized for Nardi. Nardi was arrested in Marquette County last month and transported to the Crawford County Jail.
Nardi was arraigned yesterday in the 46th District Court in Crawford County for one count Malicious Destruction of Property Over $1,000 but less than $20,000 and one count Breaking & Entering a Coin Operated Device.
Briseno was arraigned on December 13, 2021, in the 46th District Court in Crawford County for one count Malicious Destruction of Property Over $1,000 but less than $20,000 and one count Breaking & Entering a Coin Operated Device.
