Elderly couple jailed for alleged threats at bank

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH ~ Daily American Republic

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- An elderly Van Buren couple was charged Thursday with entering a Carter County bank, demanding the return of $200 bank employees had "stolen" and threatening to "kill everyone inside" if their demands weren't met.

Floyd Jenkins, 77, and his 68-year-old wife, Dorothy Jenkins, were charged with of making a terrorist threat by Carter County Prosecuting Attorney Rocky Kingree.

The Jenkinses, who are being held in the Carter County Jail on $7,500 cash or surety bond, are accused of entering the Bank of Grandin in Van Buren on Wednesday and threatening employees.

At 9:42 a.m., the Carter County Sheriff's Department received a report of "hold-up alarms" having been activated at the Bank of Grandin, Sheriff Rick Stephens said in a news release.

Officers with the sheriff's department, Van Buren Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri Department of Conservation responded.

"Upon arriving on the scene, law enforcement was advised that [the Jenkinses]had entered the bank, demanding money they felt had been stolen from them by the Bank of Grandin," Stephens said. "Both parties reportedly threatened bank staff by describing that they would retrieve weapons from their vehicle and 'kill everyone inside.'"

Stephens said he ordered a lockdown of nearby Van Buren schools as a precaution.

Stephens, with patrol Sgt. Craig Ponder and Cpl. Shawn Dougherty entered the bank, where officers handcuffed the couple after a brief struggle, according to Van Buren Officer Nathan Vails' probable-cause statement.

Vails said officers spoke with the five bank employees, including Betty Helvey.

Vails said Helvey reported the Jenkinses entered the bank, "demanding their money that they said she had stole. [She] stated they told her they 'would go get their guns and shoot every [expletive] one of us.'"

Helvey, he said, said she pushed the alarm button.

Another employee, Vails said, provided a similar account and indicated the Jenkinses had accused Helvey of stealing $200 from them.

Vails said he also was told a bank loan officer, William Clark, came out of his office and attempted to calm the Jenkinses by taking them into his office.

Clark, who had seen the Jenkinses enter the bank, reported how the couple approached Helvey accusing her of stealing $200 from them, Vails said.

"Mr. Clark stated Mrs. Helvey had not stolen any money," Vails said. "[He] stated he walked toward the window to see what the problem was."

When Clark approached the couple, Vails said, the loan officer reported that Dorothy Jenkins alleged Helvey had stolen her money and she wanted it back.

"Mr. Clark stated Mrs. Jenkins stated she had been hearing all over town that this bank was stealing money, and she wanted her money even if she had to go to the car and get her gun and shoot us," Vails said.

Floyd Jenkins, according to Clark, added he would "get the gun and shoot you all."

Stephens, Vails said, received consent to search the Jenkinses' vehicle. Vails said a .22-caliber revolver was found inside, a .410-caliber single-shot pistol and two holsters.