VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A Terre Haute woman is accused of pocketing more than $7,500 in funds grieving families paid to a local funeral home and graveyard.
Jennifer L. Acord, 41, of Terre Haute, faces a felony charge of theft after investigating prosecutor’s said on at least eight occasions she stole money while working as the office manager at Roselawn Memorial Park and Mattox Wood Funeral Home.
Following a Vigo County Sheriff’s Office incident report, an investigator working for the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office said in a probable cause affidavit filed in Vigo County Court, that an audit performed by the parent company of the above mentioned entities found that $7,574 in cash was missing.
In the court documents, the investigator said that the thefts would take place when one of the workers received payments in cash from a client for funeral arrangements, they would then bring the money to the office along with a copy of the receipt given to the customer. That money was then supposed to be deposited by Acord. But those funds reportedly never made it to the bank.
In an interview with the investigator, Acord reportedly admitted to the thefts and offered to pay restitution. However in speaking with a Roselawn manager, restitution was reportedly declined.
“Affiant told [manager] that Acord was willing to make restitution for the money stolen which was initially reported as $742.00 and [manager] told Affiant that the home office in Houston had completed an audit of the companies accounts that Acord was responsible for and the amount of missing money from cash payments was $7574.00 and [manager] declined any restitution and wished to proceed with any possible prosecution of Acord.”
Probable Cause Affidavit filed in Vigo County Court
The investigator lists eight different dates on which he believes thefts occurred spanning from April to July of 2022. The document also states that Acord admitted to the thefts in a written and signed statement.
Court records show that Acord faces a level 6 felony charge of theft between $750 and $50,000, and a class A misdemeanor of theft.
In late January, a Vigo County Judge accepted a motion for continuance from Acord’s attorney which vacated the planned January 29 jury trial. Acord is next due in court for a hearing at 1:30 p.m. on May 6.
