New Hampshire woman accused in two carjacking incidents in our region

A woman faces charges after investigators say she was involved in two carjacking incidents and leading police on a chase, according to the Greenup County Sheriff’s Office.

Amanda Fortin, 31, of New Hampshire, is accused of a carjacking in Cabell County Friday morning. A deputy says she drove the car to Portsmouth, Ohio, abandoned the vehicle, and then stole another car at knifepoint.

Deputies say police tried to pull the stolen car over, but Fortin led police on a chase. They say she crossed the bridge at the Greenup Locks and Dam into Greenup County. They say she was driving north in the southbound lanes of U.S. 23.

"She was reportedly going 105 miles per hour," Deputy Michael Hosten with the Greenup County Sheriff's Department said.

Deputies say Fortin eventually became boxed in with backed-up traffic and guardrails, and she ran out of the car. Deputies say she only made it about 25 feet before being apprehended.

Deputies say she had cigarettes in her ears to "avoid hearing the voices."

"She couldn't even tell me her name," Hogsten said. "She was telling me 'I don't know what they want me to call myself now.' She was speaking of 'they.' She also mentioned things like being controlled by aliens and other people, so she was obviously very mentally deranged."

Fortin is charged with wanton endangerment, receiving stolen property, and fleeing and evading. She’s being held at the Greenup County Detention Center.

Deputies say the victims have gotten their stolen cars back.