Journal Staff Writer

BROWN COUNTY — Authorities are searching for a 32-year-old Marshall woman suspected of trying to rob a Springfield man at his residence on April 18.

Felony charges of first and second-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools were filed in Brown County District Court Thursday against Amanda J. Ochs of Marshall. A statewide arrest warrant was issued for Ochs Thursday.

According to court documents, a man who called Springfield Police on April 18 said Ochs and an unknown man had just tried to rob him at his house. Both suspects were described as wearing a blue bandannas covering part of their faces.

The man told police the couple just left his residence in a late 1990s/early 2000s, blue, four-door Oldsmobile. Police earlier searched the area but did not locate a vehicle matching the description.

Police were told by the man that Ochs and the unknown man parked their car in the Springfield man’s driveway and knocked on his front door. When the man opened the door, he said Ochs put her shoulder into the door and the couple walked into the residence.

The alleged victim said he recognized Ochs by her voice. He said she asked him where his money and wallet were.

He asked her what she was doing. The unknown man with Ochs told the Springfield man to sit down.

The Springfield man told the couple to get out of his house.

He said Ochs asked him where his dogs were, then he told the couple he was going to call police. As he was calling, the alleged victim said Ochs told the unknown man to grab the alleged victim’s phone and told him not to call the cops.

The alleged victim then walked out of his residence, followed by Ochs and the unknown man. He watched the couple get into their car and drive north on North Van Buren Avenue, fail to stop for a stop sign, drive across Rock Street, and continue north on North Van Buren Avenue.

The victim thought the incident happened at about 8:30 p.m., April 18 and lasted one to two minutes. He described Ochs as heavyset with a large head, about five feet, 10 inches tall with short, brown, curly hair. The man said Ochs wore blue bandanna, big, black sunglasses, a light blue shirt and jeans.

He described the man as in his mid 20s, having short, blonde hair, skinny, and about five feet 10 inches to six feet tall, wore a blue bandanna, a tan, buckskin/suede coat with wool lining, and a baseball cap.

The alleged victim said he knew Ochs because he is friends with her parents who also live in Springfield. The man said he doesn’t know where Ochs lives now but that she lived in Marshall in the past.

Police talked with two other witnesses who said they saw the suspect vehicle leave the alleged victim’s residence and continue north on North Van Buren Avenue.

Later that night, police talked to Ochs’ stepfather in Springfield and were told Ochs was at the residence with a man that day and left after supper. In addition, he told police Ochs is living in a Marshall apartment, but he didn’t know the address and that the woman does not have a cell phone.