Gina Graves Furra, 37, of Center was arrested July 21, 2015 after allegedly stealing checks from the home of her grandparents, George and Geneva Burns.

On July 16 Furra reportedly attempted to purchase a vehicle from Melton’s Car Center in Center using a check from Capital One Bank for $12,000. An employee called Capital One and it was revealed the check Furra tried to use was invalid. Furra advised the employee she would return to purchase the vehicle.

The arrest affidavit states Geneva Burns told Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) investigators she was in the back room of the house hanging up clothes when she heard Furra in her house talking on the phone. Burns stated by the time she made it to the living room she could see Furra out the window of the house in a vehicle with a male passenger. Burns said she looked at her desk where two checkbooks were and discovered a check was missing from their farm account and two checks were missing from their personal account. Burns stated that no one had permission to take any of the checks. 

During the course of the investigation, SCSO Investigator Kevin Windham contacted Farmers State Bank in Center in reference to the checks Furra passed on the Burns bank accounts. The bank confirmed that on July 15 a check in the amount of $12, 297.67 was issued to Melton’s Car Center with a reported forged signature of Geneva Burns. Furra also issued a check from her account on July 15 to George Burns in the amount of $12,297.67. The investigation revealed after failing to purchase a vehicle with the check from Capital one, Furra traveled to her grandparent’s residence and returned with a stolen check and paid for a car with it. Melton’s Car Center contacted Geneva Burns and found that the check was not legitimate and began looking for the car Furra purchased.

SCSO Sergeant Investigator D.J. Dickerson met with Furra (who was already an inmate at the SCSO on unrelated charges) on July 23 and she confessed to traveling to her grandparents’ home and taking the checks without permission. Furra told Dickerson everything had been returned to the rightful owners, including the vehicle.

Furra was charged with burglary of a habitation – felony three. Her bond was set at $15,000. She posted bond and was released August 7.