Police: Woman busted for model-home burglary; her brother escapes on bike

Two siblings had a run-in with the law after one of them reportedly threw a rock through model home’s window and had entered the building, according to Maricopa police. 

At 1:49 a.m. on April 20, Maricopa police responded to a burglary alarm at a Centex model home on West Cypress Lane in Santa Rosa Crossings.  

Officers arrived and saw a gray Volkswagen sedan east of the building. A woman later identified as Melissa Sheeder was reportedly crouching in the passenger’s seat of the vehicle. Police described her as extremely nervous. 

According to a police report, while speaking with Sheeder, an officer noticed one of the model home’s windows was broken and subsequently placed her in handcuffs. 

Police asked Sheeder who was in the model home. She said her brother, Mark Sheeder, had broken the window and was still in the building. 

Maricopa police set a perimeter around the model home and searched the home but did not find Mark Sheeder. Officers reported the inside of the model home had extensive damage and drawers appeared to be rummaged through. 

According to Maricopa police, while bringing Melissa Sheeder to the police facility, she saw a man riding a bicycle in the middle of the road near Ironwood Drive and Cypress Lane who she identified as her brother. A police officer pulled behind the bicyclist and turned on the vehicle’s emergency lights, siren, and verbally told him to stop. The bicyclist peddled faster, and officers lost him.  

Melissa Sheeder told officers she was 100% certain the bicyclist was her brother, and that he did not own a bicycle and must have stolen it. 

Later, at about 3:15 a.m., police were dispatched to a home on West Yucca Lane about a bicycle theft. The homeowner gave officers home surveillance footage of the suspect, who they identified as Mark Sheeder. The bike was later found on Desert Willow Drive and returned to its owner. 

Melissa Sheeder was booked into Pinal County jail on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage. 

The same day, at 9:13 p.m., Maricopa police received a call from Melissa Sheeder who said her brother was trying to get her to recant her statements earlier in the day. Police responded to a residence to speak with Melissa, and before leaving, Mark Sheeder called her. 

During the call, which the officer listened to, Mark Sheeder called his sister a snitch and asked her how jail was. He also reportedly said he had stolen a bicycle and a golf cart during the incident and had forged a timecard to say he was working from 1-6 a.m. 

The next day, at 8:23 a.m., officers responded to a home on West Dutchman Drive where Melissa Sheeder lives. Melissa Sheeder reported her brother showed up between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. when she was not home and kicked in her bedroom door. A roommate was in the shower when they heard a bang. 

A list of felony long-form charges was submitted to the Pinal County Attorney for review for Mark Sheeder including burglary, criminal damage, theft, resisting arrest, influencing a victim and two counts of criminal trespass. Mark Sheeder was not booked into jail, according to MPD.

Police did not provide the ages of the suspects.