CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A man robbed a bank, felt guilty about it and brought the money back.
Investigators say that’s what happened Thursday at the Fifth Third Bank on Fairview Road across from the Southpark Mall.
Family members say Everette Edgeworth is afraid of prison and that is why he brought the money back. But good intentions after the fact doesn't mean you can take the crime itself back, and the place Edgeworth fears most is now a place where he could spend a long time.
We saw police bring Edgeworth out of the bank in handcuffs. Police say he robbed the bank, returned and gave the money back.
Police usually describe bank robbery getaways or arrests, not suspected bank robbers having a moment of conscience.
We asked Edgeworth ourselves as police drove him to jail.
"Sir, did you give it back? That's what they said. Just want to know, did you?”
Edgeworth didn’t speak but nodded yes. I talked to his mother and sister by phone. Both were stunned.
Then, both gave insight into why they think that moment of conscience happened. Edgeworth got out of prison a little more than a year and a half ago. His rap sheet includes convictions for drug possession, gun possession by a convicted felon, speeding to elude police and robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Edgeworth's relatives say ever since he got out of prison he's been trying hard to find a job but nobody would hire him.
They say he has no money, nobody in his life and nowhere to go. Thursday, they think that combination was the reason for the alleged bank robbery.
And bringing the money back?
Relatives say that is the part of Edgeworth who is scared to death of prison and hasn't been the same since he got out of prison. And they say bringing the money back is likely his way of trying to avoid it again.
Saying "Oops, have the money back" doesn't work with the federal government. Edgeworth is charged with bank robbery and if convicted that could land him 20 years back in prison.
