New Kensington woman found hiding in discarded refrigerator in the woods after high-speed chase, police say | TribLIVE.com
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New Kensington woman found hiding in discarded refrigerator in the woods after high-speed chase, police say

Brian C. Rittmeyer
| Wednesday, January 24, 2024 11:31 a.m.
Courtesy of Westmoreland County jail
Rachel Marie Mautino

The search for a woman who police said they pursued in a high-speed chase through New Kensington and Lower Burrell led officers to a rusted refrigerator in the woods, court documents show.

That’s where police said they found Rachel Mautino, 45, of New Kensington, hiding early Sunday after the pursuit that reached speeds of 90 mph. Mautino had been driving a stolen car while under the influence of drugs, police said.

Police had been tracking a car reported stolen from Arnold that had been traveling in and out of New Kensington, they said. When an officer got behind the car after spotting it around 1 a.m. Sunday, the car sped away heading east on Greensburg Road into Lower Burrell, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.

The driver, later identified as Mautino, turned off the car’s lights after turning onto Dutchman Run Road and then proceeded onto the dead-end Fairview Drive, police said.

She went into a driveway near the end of the road before going into a yard and toward the wood line, the complaint said.

A passenger fled toward the back of the house, police said. Mautino was wearing an orange hoodie when she ran into the woods. She kept running despite repeated commands to stop, according to the complaint.

Police said they found Mautino’s hoodie on the ground, which a police dog sniffed to get her scent. Police said they noticed footprints leading to the abandoned refrigerator and the dog also tracked her scent to there.

Mautino ignored orders to get out of the refrigerator before police released the dog on her, the complaint said.

It did not specify if Mautino was injured.

Police found a bag of suspected cocaine in the car next to Mautino’s purse, the complaint said. At the station, Mautino told police she had taken an unknown substance before driving the car, according to the complaint. Mautino refused to submit to a blood test, police said.

Mautino faces charges including receiving stolen property, flight to avoid apprehension, fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving under the influence, resisting arrest, obstruction and providing false identification.

She was taken to the Westmoreland County jail after being denied bail Sunday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 1.


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