LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A former southern Indiana elementary school employee is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing more than $50,000 from school funds.
The Columbus Police Department said Thursday 56-year-old Lilly Parker was arrested on multiple felony charges after a months-long theft investigation that started in December 2025.
Parker was employed at Southside Elementary School in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, police said, when another employee at the school told CPD officers they found evidence during an audit that Parker may have been stealing funds from the school's extracurricular accounts.
As secretary to the school's principal, Parker was responsible for overseeing the school's funds for athletics, field trips and concessions. She also handled deposits, accounting records and check preparation.
Investigators determined that between June 7, 2023 and Dec 10, 2025, Parker allegedly stole $50,130.20, according to court documents obtained by FOX59.
The documents allege Parker wrote multiple checks to herself and used that money for personal expenses, including her house mortgage. The documents also said the assistant principal reported finding his forged signature on many of those checks.
The case was assigned to a detective with the Indiana State Board of Accounts, then referred to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor's Office for further investigation and review.
Formal charges against Parker were filed Tuesday. She is charged with forgery, theft, counterfeiting and official misconduct — all level six felonies.
Parker is currently in custody at the Bartholomew County Jail.
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