A Wisconsin man has been charged with identity theft after allegedly using his wife’s credit cards to buy $6,000 worth of cleaning supplies — just a week after her family reported her missing.
Cops questioned Zachariah Rasch, 42, after he ran up a huge tab on estranged wife Crystal’s dime — and bought a suspicious amount of supplies that included stain remover, liquid drain opener, chemical-resistant gloves, a vacuum, air fresheners, wipes and carpet cleaner, according to the Independent.
The shopping spree came as his wife Crystal — who was getting ready to divorce Rasch — had been missing since at least June 10, according to her family.
At first, Rasch lied to the interrogating cops and said he never used his soon-to-be ex’s credit cards, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WISN 2 in Milwaukee.
Then he was shown security footage and photos of himself as he made the buys — and that’s when he admitted he had lied, the Independent said.
Authorities hit Rasch with seven counts of misappropriating identification to obtain money, the outlet said.
He’s being held on $250,000 bond.
Crystal was reported missing on June 23 by her step-mom, who called the cops when she couldn’t get in touch with her.
She had also found Crystal’s car — which is now undergoing a forensic analysis at the state crime lab— at her Dodge County home, the outlet said.
The couple had been scheduled for a divorce hearing Aug. 8.
Rasch was alone when he made the buys, according to security footage obtained by investigators. He also used her cards to make several cash withdrawals.
The estranged husband had a lengthy history of harassing his wife, according to WISN.
Last September, Rasch was hit with a restraining order because of domestic abuse, the Independent said.
He’d also been charged with violating another restraining order back in November 2018.
His wife’s cell phone last pinged in Adams County, where Rasch owns land.
Authorities also found Crystal’s car — a 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse — in the same area, the outlet said.
Cops said it had “significant” evidentiary value.
