Ex-Morrisville Ambulance Squad Supervisor Stole $100K: Jury

MORRISVILLE, PA — A jury has convicted the former treasurer and operations manager of the Morrisville Ambulance Squad on charges she stole more than $100,000 from the now-defunct squad.

Ruth Roxy Rookstool, 59, of Morrisville, left the courtroom in handcuffs Tuesday after the jury found her guilty on both felony and misdemeanor counts. She was later released on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be sentenced next week.

Rookstool and former squad Chief Brian Eckert were charged last year, accused of using credit cards and checks belonging to the ambulance squad to make numerous unauthorized payments between 2011 and 2018.

The payments, prosecutors say, as well as insurance fraud, totaled more than $132,000 and included paying off personal debts and expenses. Rookstool and Eckert also conspired to enroll Rookstool in company health and dental insurance after her employment with the squad had ended.

Eckert, 42, of Falls, pleaded guilty in July to misdemeanor counts related to his role, and he testified at Rookstool's trial.

The jury's verdict in Rookstool's trial took just 1 hour, 12 minutes and came after four days of testimony.

"The jury returned a quick and thoughtful verdict," said Deputy District Attorney Marc J. Furber. "We’re pleased that we were able to bring the defendant to justice and we look forward to seeing her held accountable at sentencing."

Judge Wallace H. Bateman ordered Rookstool's sentencing be deferred until next week for a pre-sentence investigation.

The Morrisville Ambulance Squad has since folded, at least in part due to financial difficulties related to the thefts.