Police suspect a woman stole more than $120,000 while working at Stillwater Middle School, according to a recent court filing.
The money was stolen from the school’s “Sunshine Fund,” which paid for employee-related events such as retirements and celebrations, read a search warrant affidavit filed by police seeking court permission to gather the former employee’s banking records from 2017 to 2024.
Stillwater Police Chief Brian Mueller said Thursday that his department’s investigation is continuing, and the 39-year-old woman has yet to be arrested. The Minnesota Star Tribune generally does not identify suspects before they are charged.
Kristine Carlston, district human resources executive director, issued a statement to the Minnesota Star Tribune that read, “Earlier this winter, Stillwater Area Public Schools was made aware of serious concerns regarding the potential mishandling of funds by a staff member at one of our schools. The district immediately began a full investigation, and the employee who was the subject of those concerns is no longer employed with the district.”
According to the affidavit:
Police met with middle school Principal Joshua Krebs and Carlston on April 11 and learned that the woman confessed to stealing the money.
The woman told human resources staff that she wrote district checks to herself and “unauthorized third parties” not specified in the affidavit. She also used a cash app as part of her scheme.
“A cursory review of the bank statements shows the possible theft exceeding $120,000,” the court filing read.
