An Indiana woman is accused of stealing more than $19,000 from the family of a 3-year-old boy who died in July after being left in a hot car.
Oliver Dill died July 9 when he was left in a hot car on the campus of the University of Southern Indiana, the Evansville Courier & Press reported. Dill's family paid Caroline Marie Rich, believing the money would go toward the toddler's funeral expenses, according to a Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office probable cause affidavit.
Rich, 37, was arrested Wednesday and charged with three counts of fraud and three counts of theft, the Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies said Rich worked as a family service counselor at Alexander Memorial Park/Funeral Home, WFIE reported.
“This family entrusted this person with paying off the debt of the funeral and memorial. You get a little disgusted with what has occurred. You had such a tragic incident that started this, where you had a young baby pass away," Sheriff Dave Weddin said.
An internal investigation determined that Rich paid $1,000 toward the boy's funeral costs from her personal credit card and kept the rest of the money, the Courier & Press reported. The Dill family paid Rich by check and through PayPal, according to the newspaper.
Family members contacted the cemetery after receiving several invoices that showed a substantial amount of money had not been paid, the Courier & Press reported.
The funeral home said it would reimburse Dill's family, according to the affidavit.
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