Legacy of love overshadows Wilson woman's sudden death

WRAL TV ^ | 5/20/2011 | Ken Smith

[Renderofveils]

Rochelle Pender's family and co-workers were stunned Friday to learn that the smiling Walmart greeter was dead. Police said employees at the 2500 Forest Hills Road store were chasing a suspected shoplifter Wednesday when someone ran into Pender. She fell and hit her head and died two days later.

...

A Walmart spokesman said Pender, 71, had been with the company for 15 years and was a beloved member of the team at the Wilson store.

"She's going to be greeting people in heaven now," Langley said.

[Renderofveils]

This happened across the street from my employer... and the "suspect" is a former co-worker.

[Doc Savage]

Never CHASE a shoplifter,...SHOOT’em in the back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[balch3]

simple assault? homicide in commission of a crime is first degree murder in most states.

[MsLady]

That’s horrible poor woman. I’m assuming they will charge the suspect for theft and manslaughter.

[babygene]

Wonder why they didn’t charge him with shoplifting? Perhaps they just thought he was shoplifting and he didn’t have anything... If so, where’s the commission of a crime? The assaults most likely happened after he was caught and the woman already dead.

[presently no screen name]

Even if he was not the one who ran into her?

[Renderofveils]

Never CHASE a shoplifter,...SHOOT’em in the back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our store learned what can happen when you chase a shoplifter about three months ago. Our Loss Prevention officer pursued a shoplifter out of the front door and was grabbed by the guy as he got into a truck outside the front entrance. The driver then hit the gas, and our LP's foot was crushed under the rear wheel. This was in spitting distance (about 150 yards) from two on-duty sheriff's deputies who never saw a thing. After someone ran over to them to get assistance, the deputies called an ambulance but didn't even come over to see if they could assist. Our LP's been out of work ever since because his foot's being held together with several screws and a plate.

It would amaze people if they could see how much shoplifting goes on from day to day even in just our store. The employees aren't allowed to detain or even question someone when we've watched them steal something. The thieves in the area know it, and nothing short of having an on-duty police officer at the store is going to stop it at this point.

[presently no screen name]

The assaults most likely happened after he was caught and the woman already dead.

She died two days later. You bring up a good point, why he wasn't charged with shoplifting.

[GrannyK]

Hubby saw a gal take a battery out of the sealed case and put it into her watch....walk away! Nothing would have happened if he had said anything, so he didn’t.

[Renderofveils]

She died two days later. You bring up a good point, why he wasn't charged with shoplifting.

He probably dumped the product before leaving the store once he realized he had been seen. If it doesn't leave the store, they can't charge the person with shoplifting.

[presently no screen name]

The driver then hit the gas

Was the driver arrested?

[Renderofveils]

Was the driver arrested?

Nope. He's still at large. The police have the plates, but haven't found the vehicle or driver.

[SeeSac]

simple assault? homicide in commission of a crime is first degree murder in most states.

I think you are reading something into the story that is not there.

[presently no screen name]

If it doesn't leave the store, they can't charge the person with shoplifting.

Didn't know that. Even if the item is hidden, placed in a pocket or something?

[presently no screen name]

The same police that ignored when the crime was taking place?

[presently no screen name]

I’m certainly getting an education here. I had no idea shoplifting was ‘so protected’. I guess it’s the new ‘career choice’ for many.

[PAR35]

Depending on what was being stolen, it should be either a murder charge or a manslaughter charge against the thief if he wasn’t the one who knocked her down. If he was, an easy murder conviction.

[GrannyK]

We are getting more and more Amish in this area, I hear that they are pretty bad about shoplifting.

[PAR35]

The common law rule is
felony= murder
misdemeanor= manslaughter

[liberty or death]

Use to own a cafe, retail store and motel. Put all that money into an online business and have twice the cash flow, 10 times more free time and no worries about all of the destructive people who steal, lie and just plain abuse the hard working small business people of this country.

15 years in retail made me sick of the human race.