APD: Coma victim lied about theft

AUSTIN (KXAN/AP) - Armondo Kelly spent two months in a coma at an Austin hospital and awoke to discover that - as he put it - a stranger was using his ATM card, to the tune of $1,300 in unauthorized purchases.

On Friday, he told police that the "stranger" was his estranged wife and that he'd lied to "protect her."

Police found this out when they received a tip that a woman seen on ATM bank surveillance video using the debit card could be the estranged wife. When they interviewed the victim again, he confessed to knowing who she was.

The woman allegedly obtained the debit card while visiting the victim in the hospital, police said. The case remains under investigation. Some $1,300 had been taken with the card without his permission, police said.

The revelation comes a day after police asked for the public's help in finding the woman, sending her photo to news media. She was driving a maroon Chevrolet Silverado LS Crew cab with a black toolbox in the bed. In each photo or video, police say there was a young girl in the car with the suspect.

Police said Kelly was in a coma at Seton Medical Center, beginning in May. His debit card was used at least eight times in late June to steal more than $1,300. There were eight transactions between June 22, 2009 and July 9, 2009.

Police said one debit card withdrawal happened in San Antonio, while the rest were in Austin.

"Unfortunately for the victim it was a new ATM card, and he thinks that he may have had PIN number written down in his wallet perhaps," said Det. Matt Conley, with the Austin Police Department, said on Thursday. "He thinks that how it could have occurred."

At 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Seton Family of Hospitals released a statement:

The Seton Family of Hospitals has policies to protect the valuables and belongings of our patients. Upon admission, patients have the option to send valuables home with family members or other responsible adult, or their valuables can be secured in a safe within the facility. Seton was not aware of any missing items until information concerning the patient’s missing debit card was brought to our attention by the Austin Police Department. Based on an initial review of our records, the patient’s debit card was not given to Seton to secure. We will continue to cooperate with APD in the ongoing investigation.