SLO woman died in Napa County after fleeing theft charges with felon boyfriend
In a strange twist to a theft case, one member of the San Luis Obispo couple who briefly went on the run from felony burglary charges in Northern California has died.
Michael and Kensington Forster were arrested in Napa County on March 28 and accused of stealing a $1,200 blanket and wine from a local home store and market, both of which were found in their vehicle, the Yountville Sun first reported.
According to the complaint, the pair discussed the theft and one stood lookout while the other stole the property from the Hillstone Restaurant Group.
Michael Forster, 61, was charged with four felony counts of conspiracy to commit crime, second-degree burglary, grand theft exceeding $950 in value and possession of stolen property, according to Napa County Superior Court records.
While The Tribune could not originally locate charges against Kensington Forster, 50, the Yountville Sun reported she faced the same charges.
Michael originally posted bail but did not appear for an April 7 court hearing, triggering a warrant for his arrest. The Yountsville Sun reported the same for Kensington, but The Tribune found no record of her warrant.
Then, on May 12, Napa County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Henry Wofford told The Tribune that Kensington — who also went by the names Amy Chaffe and Amy Chaffe Swanson — was dead.
Napa County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Carlos Villatoro confirmed that prior to her death, Kensington faced the same charges as Michael. She was first arrested on April 3, according to arrest records, and a $50,000 warrant had been out for her arrest after she failed to appear for the April 7 hearing.
The case was dismissed due to her death, Villatoro told The Tribune.
Her death was reported on April 10 — the same day that the warrant for Michael was executed and he was taken back into custody.
Wofford said her cause of death is unknown and still under investigation, even after an autopsy, as is her date of death, noting that the coroner’s report recorded April 10, but “it doesn’t necessarily mean she died that day.”
He said the Sheriff’s Office will conduct a “very independent and thorough investigation” to determine if Kensington’s death was connected in any way to the burglary charges.
“It would be just speculation to say they are even tied together,” Wofford said. “We don’t even know if there was a crime.”
He said Michael’s arrest had nothing to do with Kensington’s death. He also identified Kensington as being from Rutherford, California.
Man has a criminal history for fraud
Michael was recently sentenced for felony conspiracy for a “pump-and-dump” penny-stock fraud scheme involving a sham San Diego-based natural energy drink company after pleading guilty in a federal criminal case. He was also charged by and settled with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in a civil case for the same crime.
According to the civil complaint, he previously owned multiple other companies headquartered in San Luis Obispo, at least one of which was led by Amy Swanson — who the Securities and Exchange Commission said in a 2015 filing was “(also known as) Kensington Forster” and was “Forster’s girlfriend.”
Michael’s lawyer, Amanda Bevins, declined to comment on behalf of her client, which is her policy for all ongoing criminal cases, she told The Tribune.
He is expected back in court on Thursday for a plea and to schedule a preliminary hearing, according to court records.
