The Greene County Sheriff’s Office arrested a White Plains woman on criminal theft by taking charges following an investigation into the death of Brian Peters, 47, of Greensboro, who was killed while apparently attempting to remove catalytic converters from vehicles in the rear storage lot of Roper’s Collision Center off Union Point Highway Oct. 29.
According to incident reports, Stephanie Moncrief, 33, was arrested after the investigation revealed she dropped Peters off at the collision center to steal the converters with a battery-powered saw.
According to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the area of Ballfield Road on the night of Oct. 29 regarding a “person down.”
Sgt. Eli Franks arrived at Roper’s and saw someone waving a flashlight behind two locked gates, signaling for help. The Greene County Fire Department arrived and cut the chain on the gate so deputies could enter the storage lot.
Deputies then contacted Amy Leach, who said she found Brian Peters under a car. She then led Franks and EMS personnel to her deceased brother, who was found lying on his back under a gray BMW.
At the time, the car was lifted on a scissor jack, not touching him, but Leach later said she lifted the car off her brother in hopes of saving him.
Franks looked under the car and observed a battery-powered hand saw.
Leach told Franks she had become concerned about her brother because the last time she spoke with him was approximately 10:30 p.m. the previous night.
Leach said the last person he was with was his girlfriend, Moncrief, who told Leach she dropped Peters off on Airport Road at around 1 a.m. so that he could remove the catalytic converters at Roper’s.
Franks found a silver Prius in close proximity, with the catalytic converter removed and sticking out from the passenger side. He also found a gym bag containing a scissors jack along an overgrown trail to the rear of the storage lot.
Investigator Don Smith arrived, and the scene was turned over to him.
Franks then went to 1691 Chester Rd. to try to meet with Moncrief, who said that she dropped Peters off on Airport Road, near the airport, then went to Old Union Point Road and waited.
Moncrief said she last heard from Peters at 1:30 a.m. when she received a message from Peters, who said he stated he was going to be a little longer.
Moncrief allowed Franks to look at her messages and confirmed the last message was at 1:30 a.m.
Moncrief said she never heard anything else but continued to drive around until she ran out of gas and had a friend come pick her up.
Greene County Coroner Jeff Smith arrived on the scene and had Peters transported to the GBI Crime Lab pending an autopsy to determine the exact cause and manner of his death.