NEWS

Daughter accused of robbing parents at knifepoint

Spencer Remoquillo
Reporter

LANCASTER— A 31-year-old woman accused of robbing her parents at knifepoint at their Lancaster home for cash and drugs last month was indicted by a grand jury.

Janelle A. Deem, of Lancaster, was arraigned on eight charges, including aggravated robbery, in Fairfield County Common Pleas Court on Monday afternoon after allegedly robbing and threatening her parents with a large 7.5-inch knife at the home they all shared around 2 a.m. Aug. 16.

The knife was left behind at the home for police to find after Deem allegedly stole various items, including $1,020 in cash, blank checks, two boxes of hypodermic needles and a phone, according to police and court documents. Prescription pills considered Schedule IV controlled substances, which are commonly used to treat anxiety and depression, were also reported missing from the home.

Deem’s 67-year-old father reported the incident to the Lancaster Police Department, saying he believes another person was also involved in the robbery. While there is another suspect listed in the police report, Detective Bureau Sgt. Steve Fealty said that person has not been charged with any crimes relating to the case. Fealty said Deem and her parents lived at the same home at the time of the incident.

Deem is facing charges of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; robbery a second-degree felony; two counts of theft of drugs, fourth-degree felonies; theft from a person in a protected class, a fourth-degree felony; and two counts of theft, fifth-degree felonies.

Deem was indicted on an additional misdemeanor charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle after allegedly taking her parents’ pickup truck to leave the area that morning. The truck was found two days later in the parking lot of a Lancaster business, where police recovered it.

Deem is in custody at the Fairfield County Jail on a $50,000 cash, surety or 10 percent bond, according to court records.

sroush@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4342

Twitter: @SpencerRoushLEG