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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Jealous Fort McCoy woman charged with stealing 1966 Mustang from friend

Linda Marie Cochran

A jealous Fort McCoy woman was charged with car theft on Monday after she reportedly took back a white 1966 Ford Mustang that she signed over to a male friend about a year ago.

Linda Marie Cochran, 56, of 15663 NE 148th Court, was also charged with criminal mischief with property damage of $1,000 or more and simple battery.

The victim, who lives on the same street as Cochran, told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy that he received a text message on Sunday from Cochran saying she was going to take the car back from the victim. He said the Cochran gave him the vehicle about a year ago and signed over the title to him. The victim said Cochran has recently been jealous over his fiancé and their friendship has started to decline, according to the sheriff’s office report.

The victim said he didn’t read the message until about 5 p.m. and he said he wasn’t home at the time. He responded to his residence and found the vehicle was removed from under his carport and sitting in front of Cochran’s residence. The victim said he went to Cochran’s home and she became verbal with him and refused to give him the vehicle keys, the report said.

The victim said he called 911 and Cochran gave him the keys. He said no deputy responded or contacted him after his 911 call, so he called back on Monday to file a report and pursue charges. The victim said he noticed the Mustang had damage from when Cochran moved it from under his carport, according to the report.

The deputy observed that the vehicle appeared to have struck a metal pole holding up the carport it was parked under. There was also a 2001 Ford Taurus parked behind the Mustang that was struck and damaged when the Mustang was removed. The Mustang had about $800 worth of damage, while the Taurus had about $400 in damage, the report said.

The victim’s fiancée said she was with him when he read the message from Cochran about taking back the car. She said when she and the victim arrived, the Mustang was parked in front of Cochran’s home after being previously parked under the carport at the victim’s home. The victim’s fiancée said Cochran refused to give back the keys until he called 911. She said when she was leaving the location, Cochran became verbal with her and pushed her with both hands and battered her, according to the report.

A neighbor to both Cochran and the victim said she saw the Mustang parked in front of Cochran’s home when she arrived on the scene and she witnessed her pushing the victim’s fiancée during the altercation, the report said.

After being read her Miranda warning, Cochran said she and the victim have been friends for years, and that he recently got a girlfriend and their relationship declined. She said she gave the vehicle to the victim and signed over the title to him, along with the title of another vehicle, according to the report.

Cochran said she did remove the vehicle from under the carport and parked it under her home, and she said she had the title and was taking the vehicle back. She said she didn’t strike anything when she moved the vehicle and she denied pushing the victim’s fiancée, the report said.

The deputy confirmed the Mustang is titled to the victim and only has his name on the title. The victim said Cochran has several titles that belong to him that were in her safe, and these documents were found and returned to him, according to the report.

Cochran was taken to the Marion County Jail, where she was released Tuesday on $7,000 bond. No court information was available.