Police say a 32-year-old woman posed as a 15-year-old homeless teenager in an attempt to enroll in a New York school.
The alleged deception by Michaelann Goodrich didn't last long however. The wannabe student was busted after attending her first day of classes on Dec. 21. According to WNYT, Goodrich told school administrators that her name was "Riley Madison" and that she was homeless. The woman rode the bus to and from school and attended on day of classes. School officials say Goodrich was absent the next day, with the following week being the school's winter break.
Superintendent Anthony Taibi said he wasn't sure why Goodrich tried to enroll in classes, but because they felt something was off about their new student, they decided to call the cops.
"We notified law enforcement immediately," Taibi told HudsonValley360.
Because Goodrich identified herself as a homeless student, the school district was required to follow procedures outlined in a 1987 federal law known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act that provides federal money for homeless assistances. The law requires the district to enroll her, despite the fact she lacked documentation.
Taibi said he wasn't aware if Goodrich was suffering from any mental issues and that she had been under adult supervision while she was present at the school.
"I don't know what her motives were," said Taibi.
Joel Rowell, a Senior Investigator with the Greene County Sheriff's Office said Goodrich already had a high school diploma, so it's unclear what she was trying to accomplish.
"She could've gone in numerous different ways to obtain a degree and we actually found out through the investigation and that she has a high school diploma,” Rowell said. “So that just leads to our investigation to try to figure out what exactly her motive was for attending school."
The Greene County Sheriff's Office says they're investigating whether Goodrich has made any other attempts to falsify records or enroll in other schools.
Goodrich was charged on Dec. 28 with offering a false instrument for filing, falsifying business records, and criminal trespass. She was held in jail on $5,000 bond.
Photo: Greene County Sheriff's Office