$94,000 stolen from UA fraternity
Accountant charged for stealing from Phi Delta Theta
Jack Willems
Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: News
When Eric Hurley was treasurer of Phi Delta Theta fraternity last year, it always seemed like the fraternity did not have enough money, he said. Hurley told board members of the fraternity that they needed to check where all the money was going.
"I would always say we need to check this out," Hurley said. "We just never had enough money."
Hurley, now president of the fraternity, was right.
Kim O'Dell, an accountant hired by the fraternity to handle finances, was arrested Feb. 25 when she admitted to police that she had stolen $20,000 from the fraternity, according to a Northwest Arkansas Times story. O'Dell was formally charged Thursday for stealing $94,000 from the fraternity.
Hurley and other fraternity members filed a complaint last year, leading to board members reviewing bank statements, Hurley said.
Board members then discovered several suspicious transactions, including large checks written to O'Dell, according to the Northwest Arkansas Times.
Hurley suspected something was wrong because he knew the fraternity had taken in more money than was in the budget O'Dell set, he said.
"Last year I asked Kim how much money we raised that semester, and the number she gave me was about $90,000 less than what we did raise," Hurley said.
O'Dell told police she took the money to pay for medical bills and living expenses, according to the Northwest Arkansas Times story. O'Dell had been the fraternity's accountant for several years, Hurley said.
Not having the money has hurt the fraternity a good deal, he said.
"It's a lot of money we could use," Hurley said. "It is pretty infuriating."
The local chapter of Phi Delta Theta was founded Oct. 8, 1948, according to its Web site.
The local chapter has more than 120 active members and more than 1,700 initiated members, according to the Web site.
The international organization was founded in 1848 and has initiated more than 230,000 members, according to the Phi Delta Theta Web site.
"I would always say we need to check this out," Hurley said. "We just never had enough money."
Hurley, now president of the fraternity, was right.
Kim O'Dell, an accountant hired by the fraternity to handle finances, was arrested Feb. 25 when she admitted to police that she had stolen $20,000 from the fraternity, according to a Northwest Arkansas Times story. O'Dell was formally charged Thursday for stealing $94,000 from the fraternity.
Hurley and other fraternity members filed a complaint last year, leading to board members reviewing bank statements, Hurley said.
Board members then discovered several suspicious transactions, including large checks written to O'Dell, according to the Northwest Arkansas Times.
Hurley suspected something was wrong because he knew the fraternity had taken in more money than was in the budget O'Dell set, he said.
"Last year I asked Kim how much money we raised that semester, and the number she gave me was about $90,000 less than what we did raise," Hurley said.
O'Dell told police she took the money to pay for medical bills and living expenses, according to the Northwest Arkansas Times story. O'Dell had been the fraternity's accountant for several years, Hurley said.
Not having the money has hurt the fraternity a good deal, he said.
"It's a lot of money we could use," Hurley said. "It is pretty infuriating."
The local chapter of Phi Delta Theta was founded Oct. 8, 1948, according to its Web site.
The local chapter has more than 120 active members and more than 1,700 initiated members, according to the Web site.
The international organization was founded in 1848 and has initiated more than 230,000 members, according to the Phi Delta Theta Web site.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Bret Ripley
posted 4/01/09 @ 8:22 PM CST
Eric Hurley is the man!
Jimmi Bong
posted 4/02/09 @ 3:57 PM CST
She should see jail time.
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