Two forgery cases in Washington County have been dropped. The forgery and theft charges against 23-year-old Katie Pencil and 18-year-old Brittney Kramer, both of Cedar Rapids, have been dropped, following the murder of the man accusing them. Washington County Attorney Larry Brock says now that 90-year-old Matthew John Owen cannot testify, there’s no way of proving the charges. Owen of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Washington County, accused the women of forging a series of checks. He accused Pencil of stealing more than $17,000 and Kramer of stealing around $14,000.

The charges against Kramer had not yet been filed, due to her involvement in a serious car accident.