AG: Couple who died stole grant money; 3 others charged
Source: Associated Press
AG: Couple who died stole grant money; 3 others charged
James Nord, Associated Press
Updated 10:15 pm, Wednesday, March 16, 2016
PLATTE, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota couple who died in a murder-suicide last year stole hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to be used to help improve Native Americans' college readiness, among other things, state Attorney General Marty Jackley said Wednesday.
Investigators believe the total amount that Scott and Nicole Westerhuis stole exceeded $1 million, based on a review of financial records. Three other people associated with Mid-Central Educational Cooperative and the GEAR UP college-readiness grant program are also facing felony charges stemming from the investigation launched after Scott Westerhuis shot his wife and their four children before setting fire to their house near Platte and killing himself.
The deaths occurred just hours after the state informed Mid-Central that it was losing a $4.3 million federal contract for GEAR UP because of financial problems and accounting failures. The two initially tried to hide the alleged illegal activity that started as early as 2010, but became more brazen near the time of the September 2015 fire, according to a court affidavit.
They spent at least part of the money on home improvement projects, Jackley said at a news conference in Platte six months after the deaths.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/AG-Couple-who-died-stole-grant-money-3-others-6893555.php
= new reply since forum marked as read
Westerhuises Maintained $1.3M Property, $900K Gym on $131K Salary
Posted 2015-09-24 16:57 by caheidelberger
MCEC Business Manager Said Federal Audit “Favorable” Week Before State Canceled Contract
KELO-TV reported last night that Scott Westerhuis, the Platte man whom Attorney General Marty Jackley has said killed his wife and four children, set his house ablaze, and killed himself last week, owned a very expensive rural home:
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Before the Westerhuis home went up in flames nearly a week ago, it was very impressive. The $1.3 million rural Platte property included a 7,600 square foot house. There is also a $900,000 gym that KELOLAND News is told has a basketball court; weight lifting area; computers; and a loft with rooms for guests, a meeting room and kitchen [Angela Kennecke, “Westerhuis $1.3M Property And Non-Profits That Took Grant Money,” KELO-TV, 2015.09.23].[/center]
Kennecke’s text is unclear, but it would seem the $900K gym complex is value in addition to the $1.3M. (Play with this building calculator, see what you can spend on a 7,600-square-foot house.)
More:
http://dakotafreepress.com/2015/09/24/westerhuises-maintained-1-3m-property-900k-gym-on-131k-salary/
(Pictured from the left, clockwise) Connor, Michael, Scott, Nicole, Kailey and Jaeci were all killed
in their South Dakota home.
