HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Members of a northeast Houston church say they fell sufferer to the identical lady Eyewitness Information profiled Wednesday evening.
For the final two years, police say Joanna Knight has been soliciting cash from individuals beneath the guise of needing a spot to remain after fleeing an abusive husband.
Court docket data present she was already out on bond for a theft cost on Sept. 6 when Jonathan Russell mentioned Knight approached him and his spouse in Truffly Park.
“You already know, you wish to attempt to just be sure you assist an individual as a lot as you possibly can,” mentioned Russell, a former pastor at Open Door Sanctuary Church within the Fifth Ward.
Russell mentioned he not solely gave Knight cash but additionally recruited church members to donate.
“We gave her $180. I believe altogether from the donors it was about $300 and possibly $50,” he mentioned.
The generosity did not finish there. Russell mentioned he and his spouse went grocery searching for Knight and her 4 youngsters, invited them again to the church, and ready a meal for them.
As ABC13 reported Wednesday, CPS says two of the “youngsters” are literally adults.
“It appear like they was embarrassed in any respect. I believe at one level you possibly can sort of inform that she was just a little nervous about what she was doing,” mentioned Russell.
After seeing Wednesday’s story, the Russells say they acknowledged Knight. Houston police verify they filed a report Thursday.
“I might like to get my a reimbursement as a result of, you recognize, as a result of that cash may have been used for any individual else that actually wanted it,” mentioned Trina Russell.
Knight stays in jail on a $200,000 bond after her arrest final week for leaping bail following a July arrest.
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