Published: Thursday, June 11, 2009
"Widow Scammer" con artist gets two year sentence
EVERETT – A convicted con artist who police have dubbed the “Widow Scammer” wasn’t able to her cry her way out of going back to prison.
Shirley Sue Urich, 55, was sentenced this afternoon to more than two years behind bars. Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ronald Castleberry told Urich he wasn’t convinced that she was sorry for bilking numerous people out of their money by playing on their sympathies.
“To say you are a career criminal who steals from people is a vast understatement,” Castleberry said. “Whether you’re truly sorry for anything, I truly doubt it.”
Lynnwood police detective Doug Teachworth sat in the back of the courtroom today. Teachworth had been hunting for Urich since 2006 when she conned a Lynnwood business man out of $1,000 by weaving a sad story about how her husband had recently died and she was down on her luck.
She promised to turn over her husband’s classic car collection in return for the money. The victim later tracked down Urich’s “husband.” That man wasn't married to Urich. He didn’t even know who she was. The victim never got his money back.
On May 9, 2008, she convinced a Snohomish County man to give her $1,500. In that case, prosecutors say Urich told the man that her husband had recently died. She said the man used to drink coffee with the victim. She claimed her husband thought the world of the man. In tears, Urich told the victim she needed cash to pay an electrician, that she would pay him back.
The victim didn't see her again until detectives showed him her mug shot.
Urich has surfaced in towns across Missouri and throughout Washington, including Redmond, Ferndale, Seattle and Lynnwood. She's faced courts in six Missouri counties and in Skagit, Whatcom, King and Snohomish counties.
Urich has been telling the same tales to her victims for decades.
In 1999, she hit the Everett area, tricking a couple out of $200 when she knocked on their door and told a sob story.
She bilked a Sultan horse tack business out of $1,500 dollars in November 2005 with a story of a dying husband and an overdue electric bill, according to court papers. Urich promised to repay the money the next day by handing over 16 saddles and a Ford pickup truck. She never came back.
An alert security guard spotted her on Oct. 9, 2008 at the Quil Ceda Creek Casino. The guard called Snohomish County sheriff's deputies.
“Hopefully this will keep her out of the loop for a few months,” Teachworth said. “It’s nice that the judge didn’t buy her sob story.”
Reporter Jackson Holtz contributed to this report
Shirley Sue Urich, 55, was sentenced this afternoon to more than two years behind bars. Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ronald Castleberry told Urich he wasn’t convinced that she was sorry for bilking numerous people out of their money by playing on their sympathies.
“To say you are a career criminal who steals from people is a vast understatement,” Castleberry said. “Whether you’re truly sorry for anything, I truly doubt it.”
Lynnwood police detective Doug Teachworth sat in the back of the courtroom today. Teachworth had been hunting for Urich since 2006 when she conned a Lynnwood business man out of $1,000 by weaving a sad story about how her husband had recently died and she was down on her luck.
She promised to turn over her husband’s classic car collection in return for the money. The victim later tracked down Urich’s “husband.” That man wasn't married to Urich. He didn’t even know who she was. The victim never got his money back.
On May 9, 2008, she convinced a Snohomish County man to give her $1,500. In that case, prosecutors say Urich told the man that her husband had recently died. She said the man used to drink coffee with the victim. She claimed her husband thought the world of the man. In tears, Urich told the victim she needed cash to pay an electrician, that she would pay him back.
The victim didn't see her again until detectives showed him her mug shot.
Urich has surfaced in towns across Missouri and throughout Washington, including Redmond, Ferndale, Seattle and Lynnwood. She's faced courts in six Missouri counties and in Skagit, Whatcom, King and Snohomish counties.
Urich has been telling the same tales to her victims for decades.
In 1999, she hit the Everett area, tricking a couple out of $200 when she knocked on their door and told a sob story.
She bilked a Sultan horse tack business out of $1,500 dollars in November 2005 with a story of a dying husband and an overdue electric bill, according to court papers. Urich promised to repay the money the next day by handing over 16 saddles and a Ford pickup truck. She never came back.
An alert security guard spotted her on Oct. 9, 2008 at the Quil Ceda Creek Casino. The guard called Snohomish County sheriff's deputies.
“Hopefully this will keep her out of the loop for a few months,” Teachworth said. “It’s nice that the judge didn’t buy her sob story.”
Reporter Jackson Holtz contributed to this report
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