Boyfriend of missing woman, Tonya Whipp, arrested for accessing her financial accounts: police
AUBURNDALE, Fla. (WFLA) — Police have arrested a man accused of accessing a missing woman’s financial account and redirecting her money to himself, according to officials.
Russell Anthony Carroll was arrested on Tuesday on charges of grand theft and unlawful use of personal identification information after accessing Tonya Whipp’s accounts several times and redirecting money to himself.
Missing woman Tonya Whipp’s boyfriend speaks after police execute search warrant at his home
Carroll was Whipp’s boyfriend who said they began dating shortly after his release from prison. He had been serving time for attempted murder.
“I miss her. I love her, you know what I’m saying? It’s hard going through stuff like this. I know she’s been gone for a while. It’s getting on everybody,” he told reporters in October.
Carroll, who is suspected to have been involved in her disappearance, said he last saw Whipp when he left for work last May, but never reported her missing. He has not had charges filed for Whipp’s disappearance.
Whipp has been missing out of Auburndale since last May. As of December, Whipp’s family told WFLA they were losing hope of finding her.
“I don’t know what words to say at this point. We’re losing hope, and we don’t think that she is alive at this point. We’re praying that she still is. We’re trying to keep our hope and our faith alive for all of the community,” Tonya’s sister, Donna Martin said.
Her disappearance remains an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Chris Wall with the Auburndale Police Department at 863-965-5555.
Anonymous tips can be made to Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-888-400-8477 or online at www.P3tips.com. A total cash reward of $4,000 is being offered for information leading to Tonya Whipp’s whereabouts.
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