Case against Florida woman charged with theft dismissed after death of complaining witness

QUINCY — The case against a Daytona Beach, Fla., woman charged with theft was dismissed in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning.

State’s Attorney Gary Farha made a motion to dismiss the case, and Judge Tad Brenner agreed. 

The case was dismissed because of the death of the complaining witness in the case. Bob Lansing, 73, of Quincy was killed in an automobile crash on U.S. 36, two miles west of Clarence, Mo., on Friday, Sept. 1. He was the passenger in a 2016 Toyota Landcruiser driven by his son, Lucas Lansing of Windsor, Colo., when it changed lanes when it was unsafe and was struck by a 2016 Volvo VNL semi. The Landcruiser slid off the left side of the road and overturned.

Olivia Wiemelt, 28, had been charged with a Class 1 felony of theft more than $100,000. The charging document in her case alleges that between Nov. 6, 2020, and Feb. 10, 2023, continuing enforcement of the unauthorized control of the property of Kayser Lure Corp., determined that Wiemelt stole $151,019.50.

A warrant was issued for Wiemelt’s arrest on June 12. The warrant was served by the Adams County Sheriff’s Department, and an arrest was made by the Hannibal Police Department in Hannibal, Mo., on July 20. She posted 10 percent of a $50,000 bond and was released from custody on July 21.

Had Wiemelt been found guilty of the Class 1 felony, she was eligible to receive a sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections of four to 15 years.

Lansing owned the property at 107 Junction in Ursa, the home of Kayser Lure Corp., which is described on its website as the “leading manufacturer of fishing lure fiber weed guard products and StarFlash round silicone fishing lure skirts.”

Wiemelt appeared without an attorney on Aug. 19 in front of Judge Debra Wellborn. Her next appearance in court had been set for Sept. 20 before Brenner.