Michaelann Goodrich arrested after pretending to be a 15 year old homeless teen enrolling in the Cairo-Durham- NY school district under the alias Riley Madison.
A 32 year old Greene County, upstate NY woman has been arrested after trying to enroll in local high school classes while pretending to be a 15 year old homeless teen.
Michaelann Goodrich’s arrest followed after she sought enrollment as a student in the Cairo-Durham school district under the alias Riley Madison, according to a statement from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
The HudsonValley360 reported Goodrich arrested and charged Dec. 28 with first-degree offering false instrument for filing, a class E felony; first-degree falsifying business records, a class E felony; and third-degree criminal trespass, a class B misdemeanor.
The woman rode the bus to and from school and attended one day of classes Dec. 21.
Goodrich attempted to enroll at Cairo-Durham on Dec. 19, Superintendent Anthony Taibi said.
Taibi says administrators felt something was off and contacted local authorities.
‘We notified law enforcement immediately,’ he said.
Because Goodrich identified herself as a homeless student, the district was required to follow special procedures identified in the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, Taibi said, which provides federal money to combat homelessness.
‘We consulted with law enforcement based upon the circumstances and proceeded accordingly,’ Taibi said.
Asked if mental illness played a role in Goodrich’s actions, Taibi responded, ‘I can’t speculate on that,’
Adding, ‘I don’t know what her motives were.’
Read a released statement from the sheriff’s office: ‘The Cairo-Durham School District followed appropriate procedures and contacted local authorities to investigate.’
Investigators are uncertain if Goodrich has made other attempts to falsify records, enroll in other schools or access children, according to police.
Of note, WNYT-TV reported Goodrich already in possession of a high school diploma.
Anyone with information about Goodrich is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Unit at 518-943-3300.
