An 18-year-old Casper woman who allegedly pretended to be someone else when she was arrested on Christmas has been charged with identity theft, according to a police report.

Authorities realized the mistaken identity only after the woman whose name had been taken came forward.

Laurelei Lou Denton allegedly used a friend’s driver’s license, which she had taken about nine months earlier, to hide her identity, the report states.

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The owner of the license went to the police department on Wednesday to report her name had been in the newspaper for a drunk driving arrest on Christmas. However, she had been home all day on Christmas and hadn’t been arrested, she told authorities.

Police discovered what had happened and noted Denton and the woman shared a resemblance, according to the report.

Authorities visited Denton at the Natrona County Detention Center, where she was incarcerated. Denton told police she had drunk alcohol at her family’s house on Christmas morning. She then left the home and was pulled over by police, the report states. Fearing she would receive a minor in possession charge, she gave them her friend’s license.

Denton told police she continued to assume her friend’s identity for the duration of her incarceration, according to the report.

She remained in jail as of Thursday afternoon.

The Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the fall death of a 46-year-old woman found in her Madison apartment to be a homicide, a Metro police spokesman said.

Pamela Zanardi was found dead Oct. 12 at her home in the 600 block of Cheyenne Boulevard after police say a friend asked officers to check on her, police spokesman Don Aaron said. At the time, police said preliminary autopsy results show Zanardi had been dead for at least a day.

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Although Zanardi suffered from seizures and other health issues, the preliminary examination of her body revealed injuries that raised suspicion.

Madison Precinct detectives received the final autopsy report, including toxicology testing, in the Zanardi case on Wednesday and the coroner determined her death to be a homicide, Aaron said.

Police have not released Zanardi’s exact cause of death.

Detectives have continued to work the case while awaiting the medical examiner’s conclusions. Aaron said strong leads have developed and the investigation remains active.

Zanardi’s death marks the 75th homicide in Nashville this year. Last year at this time, the city saw 41 criminal homicides.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Madison Precinct’s Investigations Unit at 615-880-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

The Boyle County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the case of a missing juvenile.

Brandy Rashaa Hall,17, was reported missing on December 28, 2015.

LEX 18’s Bonnie Campo spoke with Melissa Crawford, Brandy’s mother, about her daughter’s disappearance.

Melissa says it’s almost as if Brandy left without a trace.

“She left with 30 dollars. I can’t find any particular item of clothing that she left,” said Melissa.

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Brandy’s car hasn’t moved  from the driveway since Monday morning when she disappeared.

They say that her Christmas gifts and daily meds that she takes for anxiety and depression are still sitting at her house.

The only item they’ve noticed missing is her flatiron.

Melissa says it is possible that Brandy is with her ex-boyfriend.

Instead of clinging to fear, Melissa says she is clinging to hope.

“I can’t say she went willingly. I do feel as her mom, she is not where she wants to be,” Melissa told LEX 18. “It’s been too long.”

“I wanna know she’s ok,” said Melissa. Her message to her daughter is to reach out to anybody and let them know she is okay.

She is described as 5’03”, medium build with shoulder length black hair that may be dyed blonde. She has blue eyes and her nose pierced.

Indian Hills Christian Church in Danville will hold a vigil tonight for Brandy.

They say it is believed, but unconfirmed, that she may be in the Pulaski/Somerset area.

If you have any information as to her whereabouts is asked to contact the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office or their local law enforcement agency immediately.

Drunken-driving charges against an upstate New York woman have been dismissed based on an unusual defense: Her body is a brewery.

A lawyer representing the woman says her blood-alcohol level has been recorded at four times the legal limit when she hasn’t had a drink. She didn’t discover her rare condition until after her arrest.

Attorney Joseph Marusak says he submitted medical evidence of his client’s condition, known as “auto-brewery syndrome,” to a suburban Buffalo judge who dismissed the DWI charges this month.

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The condition is believed to be caused by high levels of yeast in the gut. The woman is now on a low-carbohydrate diet that has brought it under control.

Marusak declined to name the woman, citing medical confidentiality laws, and he says the case has been sealed

A five-year-old missing person’s case ended up with two men arrested Wednesday evening, charged with the murder of a Logan County man.

West Virginia State Police troopers say five years after Willy Williams was reported missing, some new leads jump started the investigation.

Freelin Vance of Logan, and Anthony Baisden of Mingo County both face first-degree murder charges.

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Troopers say they picked up both men Wednesday, and that they both admitted to being involved in Williams’ death to some extent.

However, troopers have not released whether or not the men admitted to actually killing Williams.

Troopers say Williams was 19 years old when he was reported missing by a family member in November 2010.

They say thanks partly to the help of some neighbors in Logan County, Williams’ family can finally begin the process toward closure.

“It was an intensive investigation, with a lot of manpower invested and a lot of time from the State Police and from the help of the community,” Trooper M.J. Miller said. “He had a lot of family here that was local. Hopefully it brings them some closure and relief, and hopefully we can provide them with some more information at a later date.”

Troopers say the investigation will continue well into the new year, but they did not say whether they plan on making any more arrests at this time.

They added that they are still investigating just how and where Williams died.

An Appomattox County male is in jail without bond after being arrested on multiple charges related to the abduction and rape of a 14-year-old Missouri girl.

Virginia State Police Troopers arrested Edward E. Anderson, 28, on charges of abduction with intent to defile, statutory rape, object sexual penetration and possession of child pornography.

Anderson is being held at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail.

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Virginia State Police were alerted Christmas day of a missing 14-year-old girl who was being held against her will at a residence in the Spout Springs area of Appomattox County.

Troopers immediately responded to that area and went door to door searching for the girl. She was located at Anderson’s residence and safely recovered without incident.

The 14-year-old victim was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital.

She has since been reunited with her family in Missouri.

Further investigation revealed Anderson had met the girl online and traveled to her residence in Missouri Dec. 22, 2015.

The two then drove to Appomattox County.

The 14-year-old was able to text a family member Dec. 25, 2015. The family member then contacted state police.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.