MONROE — A rural Monroe woman charged with 21 counts related to suspected catalytic converter thefts in the area skipped bail but has been caught in Florida and returned to Green County. 

That suspect, Kelsey Ann Wuethrich, was free on a $50,000 signature bond and facing numerous charges for methamphetamine and other offenses when she apparently ran. She never showed up for court or jail and warrants were issued for her arrest. 

“Your honor, she failed to appear on both of these matters,” District Attorney Craig Nolen told the court during Wuethrich’s initial appearance back in Green County Friday, adding that the two charges against her were serious. “…There is significant likelihood she will fail to appear in court,” again.

As such, Vale set bond for both charges at a combined $12,000.

Thieves typical remove converters from parked cars using a battery-powered reciprocating saw and then sell them to a junk dealer, including at least one such dealer in the Freeport area. They can fetch hundreds due to the amount of rare metals in them.

Other recent suspects in coverter thefts have include Brandy M. Williams, 41, of Browntown. Timothy James Decker, 42, of Verona, and Christopher T. Odair, 45, of Browntown. Together, the trio were charged with multiple counts of theft of major parts of a motor vehicle. Those defendants and Wuethrich were typically using money from the thefts to pay for drug habits.

Among the thefts reportedly attributed to the three or four top suspects, include the theft of two converters from the parking lot of a Madison hotel, additional converters from a location on Wis. 69, another from a box truck in Evansville, from a box truck in the city of Monroe; and a from camper in Green County. 

For her part, Wuethrich is expected to appear in court again on the charges on July 11 before Vale. She asked the court for psychiatric assistance during the hearing, a matter the judge said she will have to take up with the jail staff, Vale said.