Suspicious note in local mailbox leads to arrests - East Idaho News
Crime Watch

Suspicious note in local mailbox leads to arrests

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REXBURG — Three people were arrested after a mail carrier discovered a note in a mailbox asking for help in getting a wanted criminal out of a home.

Nichole Connell, 35, is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, felony trafficking in heroin, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor injury to a child. She was scheduled for a court hearing this week, but it has been postponed until November.

Connell, 35, was arrested in February after Madison County Sheriff deputies received a note from a mail carrier concerning a wanted person living in Connell’s home.

The note stated:

“Dear Mailperson, I need your help please. There is a girl by the name of Amber Norby staying at my house that has a warrant out for her arrest. She was on T.B. a couple weeks ago; she is on Bonneville’s most wanted. She is a family friend but is putting my daughter and I at risk. Can you please contact the Sheriff’s Dept. so they can come get her. But this has to be completely anonymous. I cannot be involved in any way. & I need her out A.S.A.P Thank you. Please make this happen fast. My daughter is scared. – Mr. or Mrs. Postman.”

Deputies went to the home on the 7500 block of 2000 West and tried to contact the people inside. After multiple attempts, court documents state they received a warrant to enter with the assistance of the Madison/Fremont county SWAT teams.

As the SWAT team was approaching the home, court documents state the front door opened and a man walked out. He was detained, along with Norby.

norby
Amber Norby | Madison County Sheriff’s Office

Officers then found Connell and an 11-year-old child sleeping on a mattress. Investigators searched the home and confiscated drug paraphernalia and illegal substances, according to documents.

Police asked Connell if she left the note in the mailbox and she denied it, according to court documents.

The man was booked into the Madison County Jail on drug charges that were dropped in March.

Norby was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and on her three Bonneville County outstanding warrants. The drug charges were dropped in March but she was sentenced to 180 days in jail and two years of probation for escaping a work-release program.

Connell pleaded not guilty to her charges in Sept. Her next court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 6.

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