A Kentucky woman has been arrested after allegedly carrying out an extraordinary act of vandalism against her ex-boyfriend’s car, leaving it completely destroyed and causing more than $12,000 worth of damage.
Police say 31-year-old Stephanie Carlquist, who is pregnant, unleashed a wave of destruction following an argument with her former partner in July, according to MailOnline. The incident reportedly escalated from a previous confrontation earlier in the month, during which she is accused of slashing one of the vehicle’s tires.
On July 15, Carlquist allegedly returned to the car and carried out further damage in what investigators have described as an intentional and systematic effort to ruin the vehicle. Among the reported acts was pouring salt directly into the engine, an action that can cause catastrophic internal damage.
She is also accused of filling the air-conditioning vents with glitter, an act that may have seemed trivial but ultimately contributed to the car being deemed unusable. Police documents state she additionally cracked the windshield and the rearview mirror, shattered the radio display, and slashed a tire.
The extent of the destruction left the vehicle beyond repair. Authorities estimated the total damage at $12,464.96, effectively rendering the car a complete loss, the New York Post reports.
According to reports, Carlquist admitted her actions to the tow truck driver who was tasked with removing the car and even went as far as to call her ex-partner’s mother to confess what had happened. Shortly after, she allegedly sent a message to her former boyfriend on Instagram, offering an apology. In the message, she reportedly claimed that her behavior had been influenced by stress related to her pregnancy.
When questioned by police, Carlquist allegedly confessed to certain acts, including putting glitter into the vents and cracking the windshield. However, she denied responsibility for the rest of the damage, claiming instead that some of the vehicle’s problems were caused by overdue maintenance and service issues. Investigators rejected this explanation after assessing the extent of the damage, per WWNY.
Carlquist was arrested and taken to Madison County Detention Center, where she posed for a mugshot that has since drawn widespread attention due to her wide smile. She has been charged with felony criminal mischief and was booked in lieu of a $12,000 bond.
Court proceedings are expected to follow as authorities continue to investigate the incident and assess whether additional charges may be warranted. For now, the case stands as a striking example of how a personal dispute escalated into an act of destruction that left behind not only a ruined car but also serious criminal consequences.