Pair Allegedly Pretends To Be Cop And Date, Robbing Hotel Guest In Northborough

NORTHBOROUGH, MA—Two are facing charges after one allegedly posed as a cop, and the other as an online "date" meeting a man at a hotel.

Daniel O’Malley, 49, Hunnewell Road, Worcester, and Kara Kelleher-Mahunik, 53, Shrewsbury Street, Holden, were arrested by Worcester and Northborough police and charged with armed robbery, armed assault with intent to commit robbery and conspiracy. O’Malley was also charged with impersonating a police officer. They were taken into custody at O’Malley’s Hunnewell Road apartment.

Northborough police were called around 8:16 p.m. from the victim saying that a man forced his way into his room at the Motel 6 located on Belmont Street (Route 9).

While the victim waited for the arrival of a female acquaintance, he heard the knock at the door. When he opened it, the man forced his way in while displaying a gold badge and identifying himself as a police officer. O'Malley demanded the victim’s wallet and when he refused, O'Malley produced a handgun. A scuffle ensued during which the victim was struck multiple times in the head and face and his wallet was taken at which time the suspect fled.

During the assault the suspect questioned the victim regarding the whereabouts of a female named Kara. The female subject that was to meet the victim was only known to him at the time as Kara. Northborough detectives reviewed various security video images from several locations and working with detectives from Worcester and Holden were able to identify O’Malley and Kelleher-Mahunik as the suspects in the robbery.

The victim, a Cumberland Rhode Island man, met Kara on a previous occasion through a dating app. Northborough investigators learned that the pair had set the victim up for the robbery from the onset.

The pair was taken into custody at approximately 2 a.m. and transported to Northborough for processing and arraignment in Westborough District Court.

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