By Trey Mewes, Austin Daily Herald

AUSTIN — An Austin woman accused of pushing an elderly woman down the stairs and stealing medication pleaded not guilty to related charges Wednesday in Mower County District Court.

Renae Dawn Kramer, 43, faces two felony counts of assault, one count of first degree-aggravated robbery, one count of first degree burglary, and one count of obstructing the legal process.

According to a court complaint, Kramer approached the elderly woman at her home several times earlier this month asking for prescription drugs and admitted she had a drug issue. The victim had given Kramer two pills, but Kramer reappeared at the victim’s home in southeast Austin several days later, on April 7, asking for more medication. The victim told police she had regretted giving Kramer the pills and refused to give further medication to Kramer.

Kramer allegedly became angry, which frightened the victim. The victim tried to leave her home but Kramer wouldn’t let her, according to the complaint. After a struggle, Kramer allegedly threw the victim down a flight of stairs into the victim’s basement.

Police found the victim at about 3:30 p.m. April 7 after the victim pressed her medical alarm button. The victim’s head was bloody, she suffered two broken wrists and head lacerations that required staples and a back injury.

Officers found pills and muddy clothes at the home of Kramers’ relatives, according to the complaint. Those pills were later found to be Diazepam, a controlled substance, which matched medication found at the victim’s house.

Police eventually found Kramer in the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center parking lot, where Kramer appeared to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol. They first took Kramer to the Mower County jail then to an emergency room at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin in fear Kramer was overdosing on drugs.

At one point, Kramer allegedly broke free of hospital restraints and raided a medication cart at the hospital. Hospital staff couldn’t figure out whether Kramer took any medication from the cart, according to the complaint.

Kramer’s bail was set at $250,000. Her next court appearance is Aug. 1.