A 78-year-old woman a history of bank robbery convictions was apprehended for her latest heist in Missouri. Bonnie Gooch allegedly entered Goppert Financial Bank and handed the teller a note demanding a large sum of cash.
Following the theft, she left a message apologizing for scaring the teller before driving away with the stolen money.
Disguised in a black N95 mask, sunglasses, and plastic gloves, Gooch entered the bank on April 5th and gave the teller a note requesting $13,000 in small bills. Surveillance footage shows her pounding on the counter, urging the teller to expedite the cash handover. Gooch then fled the scene in her Buick Enclave, which prominently displayed its handicap registration.
Oficers responded to a “robbery in progress” call at around 3:20 pm local time. Upon finding Gooch in her vehicle with a strong odor of alcohol and cash scattered on the floor, she was arrested and criminally charged.
Gooch is now in jail, with bail set at $25,000.
Police Chief Tommy Wright of the Pleasant Hill Police Department told the Kansas City Star that officers were initially unsure if they had apprehended the correct person due to Gooch’s age and appearance as a “little old lady.”
Gooch’s criminal history includes a 1977 robbery conviction in California and a 2020 bank robbery conviction, in which she handed the teller a birthday card with “this is a robbery” written inside. Her probation for the 2020 robbery ended in November 2021.]
Chief Wright stated that Gooch has no diagnosed medical conditions, but authorities are investigating whether any underlying health factors related to her age may have contributed to the incident.