PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Port St. Lucie police have arrested a 47-year-old woman accused of armed bank robbery that occurred nearly a year ago, following an extensive investigation that spanned multiple countries.
Mary Adolphus, a Port St. Lucie resident and former state corrections officer, was taken into custody on Wednesday. She now faces charges of robbery with a firearm and grand theft.
The investigation began June 6, 2025, at the PNC Bank off SW Gatlin Boulevard. The robber displayed what appeared to be a firearm, passed a note to the teller indicating she had a weapon, and stole approximately $2,000 before fleeing in a black Mercedes.
Police Chief Niemczyk said the weapon turned out to be a BB gun, which was recovered during Adolphus' arrest.
The case proved challenging for detectives, who were "inundated with tips" and had to rule out multiple suspects who resembled surveillance photos from the bank.
"When you're dealing with a circumstantial case, which this very much was up until recently, a big part of the lift is ruling out and proving who it wasn't," Chief Niemczyk said.
Detectives traced Adolphus' movements in the area before the robbery, including visits to two other banks and a Sam's Club across the street, creating a timeline that placed her at the scene.
The investigation was complicated by Adolphus' attempts to leave the country. She traveled to Jamaica more than once during the investigation, and when directed to leave Jamaica, she attempted to flee to the Dominican Republic.
"Getting a face-to-face interview was challenging," Niemczyk said.
Police were finally able to interview Adolphus on Wednesday, when she provided a confession. She was arrested at Miami International Airport as she allegedly attempted to flee the country.
Adolphus worked as a state corrections officer for nearly five years, with her tenure ending in 2023 due to what police described as "some sort of misconduct." She had no significant criminal background before this incident.
Police said financial struggles motivated the crime — specifically, she needed money to pay rent and was in the process of moving homes.
Chief Niemczyk believes this was the first bank robbery in Port St. Lucie city limits since 2023, calling it "a crime with extremely high risk and low reward."
"Typically, they get out with less than a few thousand dollars and are rapidly caught, usually within a couple of months," Niemczyk said.
This case also marked the first female bank robber Niemczyk could recall in the jurisdiction.
"If you commit a crime in this city, that's exactly how we're going to address it," Niemczyk said. "We're just relentless, and we're not going to let something like that go."
Adolphus will make her first court appearance, where a judge will determine if she'll be granted bond.
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