PLAINWELL, Mich. (WOOD) —The family of the man who allegedly robbed an Allegan County bank say he was not violent, had no criminal record and had lived a successful life.
But a combination of a lifelong fight with alcoholism, the sudden loss of his job and a re-occurring brain tumor pushed him past rock bottom.
Suspect Paul Donnelly is a 50-year-old native of Jackson Michigan and an Eastern Michigan University graduate who had worked for many years as a successful accountant before moving to Key West, where he was the controller for a newspaper there.
"He was very lost and very, very sick," said Jackie Donnelly, the younger sister of the man police say robbed the PNC Bank in Plainwell around 11 a.m. Thursday.
It was a shock for the town of less than 4,000 when streets were closed and buildings cleared out as police worked to determine if a backpack left behind by the robber indeed contained a bomb as he claimed on a note given to the teller.
The backpack was harmless and police released several clear photos of the robber to the media.
Full story: WOOD TV