Wis. woman accused of placing dead rat in food

[TJ Phaserman 2]

APPLETON, Wis. - A woman accused of planting a dead lab rat in restaurant food and demanding $500,000 to keep quiet was charged Monday with one felony count of extortion. Debbie R. Miller, 41, of Appleton, also faces misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and resisting an officer.

 

Miller claimed to find the rat in her lunch April 17 as she ate at the upscale Seasons Restaurant in Grand Chute, according to the criminal complaint.

 

She threatened to alert the media unless the owners paid her $500,000, the complaint said.

 

The owners turned the rat over to their insurance company. Investigators there determined the rodent was a white laboratory rat, the complaint said.

 

Tests also suggested the rodent had been cooked in a microwave, but the restaurant doesn't use microwaves in cooking.

 

Miller said the incident caused her to seek unspecified medical treatment. She was being held Monday in the Outagamie County jail in lieu of $1,500 cash bond.

 

Court Commissioner Brian Figy said the bond amount reflected Miller's lack of a criminal record.

 

"The defendant may have some physical or mental issues and has no warrant history," Figy said. "But the allegations are rather disturbing."

 

Online court records did not list a defense attorney for Miller, who is due back in court Thursday for further proceedings. The extortion charge carries a maximum penalty of 3 1/2 years in prison.

 

[Admiral Kirk 1]

That is sick....

[GhostofMajorHayes 10]

Ah yes, good old Appleton, hometown to actor Willem Dafoe and a place I love very much. This is a rather twisted tale of a scam artist trying to get something for nothing. I seriously doubt she will get 3.5 years in a state prison here for that,especially in light of her having no criminal history. Most likely, probation and a fine.

[Wishfire 2]

She should also get a psychological evaluation. It's not quite normal to cook a rat in a microwave.

[Odie 0]

That is just gross.

[rob39874 0]

If this was a fast food restaurant I would have said did she order fries with that. But since it isn't I think she needs to have some kind of counsellor since she may have cooked that rat alive. But unless she was a scientist how did she get a lab rat?

[Wishfire 2]

But unless she was a scientist how did she get a lab rat?

 

With ease. They're often sold in pet stores as snake food. I used to have several as pets.