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<< Previous   of   Next >> Lynnwood Police Department photo  (click to enlarge) Shirley Sue Urich   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Prolific con artist arrested at casino By Jackson Holtz Herald Writer LYNNWOOD – A prolific scam artist who has been on the run from police since before 2006 was arrested at a casino Thursday. Lynnwood police have been tracking Shirley Sue Urich, 58, of Everett, since they learned of her elaborate scam where she posed as a desperate widow and managed to convince people to give her money. “She was a very convincing con artist and would dupe people out of thousands of dollars,” Lynnwood police detective Doug Teachworth said. He’s been tracking her case and said she has victims throughout the West Coast. Her misdeeds have attracted national media attention. Urich has been difficult to apprehend, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said. She’s been on the move, occasionally leaving Washington and using dozens of aliases. Teachworth said he acted on a hunch and distributed wanted fliers to Puget Sound area casinos in 2006 and again in March when police believed Urich scammed someone in Stanwood. The detective believed Urich was supporting a gambling habit. An alert security guard spotted her Thursday at the Quil Ceda Creek Casino and called Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies. Urich was jailed on several outstanding warrants for theft and parole violations. She has had at least 19 felony convictions over the past two decades for theft, fraud and stealing. She’s likely to face at least half a dozen additional charges -- possibly more, as more victims come forward, Teachworth said. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out (No heading) I tip my hat to Det. Teachworth. His intuition and tenacity in bringing this dirtbag to justice are to be commended! The security guard also deserves a hearty atta boy as their importance is too often overlooked. They bring credit to thier respective organizations. Lee Fowble | Oct 15, 2008 6:24 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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