SALT LAKE CITY – Arrest warrants have been issued for a couple accused of flying to Utah and renting vehicles that were never returned and were last seen crossing the border into Mexico.

William C. Bennett, 31, of Cook, Illinois, and Lisa J. Wise, 35, of Temecula, California, were charged last week in 3rd District Court with theft of a rental car, a second-degree felony. Bennett was also charged with a second count of theft of a rental car, in addition to identity fraud, a second-degree felony, and illegally possessing another person’s identification, a Class A misdemeanor.

On May 24, Bennett and Wise flew to Salt Lake City after purchasing airline tickets that day. “Wise rented a Jeep from Budget Rent a Car at the airport,” charging documents state. Two days later, “the Jeep’s GPS tracking system was disabled.”

That same day, the couple went to Budget Rent a Car, 235 W. 500 South, and rented a vehicle using another person’s identification, the indictment says.

“Later that same day, Bennett went to the Budget car rental location at Salt Lake International Airport and exchanged the vehicle for a Ford truck,” the indictment states. “On or about May 31, 2024, the Ford was caught (on camera) crossing the border into Mexico.”

On May 25, the couple went to the Avis car rental location, 255 S. West Temple, and again rented a vehicle using another person’s identification. They then took the vehicle to Avis at Salt Lake City International Airport and exchanged it for a Dodge truck, the indictment states. On June 12, the truck was filmed crossing the border into Mexico.

A possible motive for the crimes is not apparent from the court documents.