Cemetery board to sue former treasurer

SMITHWICK, Texas (KXAN) - Looking to reclaim its stolen $60,000, the Smithwick Cemetery Association board is filing a civil lawsuit against the woman charged with the crime.

Officials subpoenaed the private account of the board’s former treasurer, Joan Shafer, 56, and arrested her on Monday.

The investigation revealed records of deposited checks in Shafer’s account from the cemetery association from January 2007 to July 2008 totaling $59,883.71.

“We needed proof of the deposits,” said Kathy Sievers, an investigator with the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office. “Those checks were made out to pay for services at the cemetery.”

Sam Cox, who sits on the cemetery association’s board, said the money was meant to pay contractors and lawn care providers for cemetery upkeep.

“We’re not sure where that money is now,” Cox said. “We’re hearing it’s no longer in the accounts, so we’re not sure if she spent it or not.”

Sievers said there are “a lot of rumors flying,” but she did not look beyond the records of deposit to discover the current status of the funds. The financial gap prompted the cemetery association to seek legal action against Shafer.

“I have no idea when or if we’ll get the money back,” Cox said, “but we’re hopeful.”

On April 27, the cemetery association’s board members went to the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office with the allegations and documentation of the missing money. Monday, Burnet County Sheriff’s deputies drove to Shafer’s house to make the arrest. By that time, Shafer’s attorney had advised her to turn herself in.

“She turned herself in to the Travis County Sheriff, because it was easier for everyone involved,” said Burnet County Sheriff W.T. Smith.

Shafer was booked in the Travis County Jail. Bond is set at $20,000. She now faces a third degree felony theft charge, punishable by two to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

Smithwick Cemetery is a Texas Historical Commission site. More than 600 tombstones are within the hilltop area along FM 1431.

Shafer never returned phone calls regarding the story.