In trouble again: Former Jefferson deputy accused of breaking into home, stealing hydrocodone

JEFFERSON -- A former Jefferson County deputy accused of breaking into or trying to break into homes of grieving families is in trouble again. Charges of burglary and felony bail jumping were filed Tuesday, Feb. 25 after prosecutors said she was caught on camera breaking into a Jefferson home.

Janelle Gericke was in court Dec. 30 in the initial burglary case filed Dec. 17, and received a $10,000 signature bond, ordered to have no contact with the victims/residences, and ordered to commit no further crimes.

According to a criminal complaint, around 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 24, Jefferson police officers were called out to a Jefferson home for a burglary. The homeowner indicated he got a notification on his phone from his security system indicating someone was trying to get in. When he arrived, he found no one there. He checked his surveillance footage, which showed a white female he believed to be Gericke, as he was familiar with her and knew she was a former deputy. He initially didn't believe anything was missing from his home, but eventually found hydrocodone missing from his bathroom drawer. Only empty pill bottles were found.

The surveillance video showed a woman walking to the detached garage and heading for a service door.

Investigators spoke with Gericke later that day, who indicated she was home with her young child from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The complaint said she denied having gone anywhere. Prosecutors noted she was wearing the same clothing items as the woman seen in the surveillance video from the burglary.

Prior burglary case

Gericke faces one count of burglary of a building or dwelling, filed Dec. 17.

According to a news release, sheriff's office personnel discovered evidence that led officials to suspect Gericke may have been involved in illegal conduct while off-duty. Specifically, "evidence showed she may have attempted to gain access to a house without consent."

The criminal complaint against Gericke said these attempts to gain access to homes "occurred while the homeowners were attending the funeral of a family member. In such instances, the deceased person's online obituary listed the homeowners as surviving relatives along with the date and time of funeral services. If confronted, Gericke would explain that she was there to complete a transaction arising from Facebook."

As people were mourning the loss of Lake Mills Firefighter Chris Truman in January, who was struck and killed while helping a stranded motorist on New Year's Eve, a deputy spotted a woman he recognized on Truman's front porch. Prosecutors said Gericke said she was trying to purchase a baby item from Facebook Marketplace, but the name or address she gave didn't match any locations in the area. She later texted the deputy, saying she found what she was looking for at the home next door.

There was a problem because the next-door neighbor didn't sell anyone anything.

That was one of seven homes in Jefferson County, in Fort Atkinson, Lake Mills, and Watertown, prosecutors said Gericke tried to break into or broke into. Four of the crimes happened while families were away for funerals, and some happened while under surveillance by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Prosecutors said she tried getting into a co-worker's home while that person was out of town, and was spotted in surveillance video. When confronted by the co-worker, prosecutors said Gericke denied it was her.

"It's sad," said Gage Cunningham of Jefferson. "Why would someone want to do that when the people are going through something like that? That would be difficult even dealing with that, and then having to come home and realize that your stuff is taken -- that's not good. That's awful."

That's the same question FOX6 News wanted to ask, and while the lights and TV were on and people were home, no one answered the door when we stopped by Gericke's home in Jefferson after charges were filed.

Gericke had been employed by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office since February 2016 and was a deputy assigned to the Jail Division. Her employment was terminated on July 3, 2019.

In the news release, the following statement was issued: