On April 18, 2018, the North Platte Police Department was made aware of a theft that had occurred in the 1200 block of South Ash Street.
Officers spoke to employees at the North Platte Kids Academy and learned that 41-year-old Michelle Seidler had been hired as the Executive Director in August of 2016 and was terminated from the position in January of 2018.
After Seidler’s departure, multiple discrepancies were discovered in the organization’s financial records and funds managed by Seidler.
Investigators believe Seidler used several different methods to steal the money and was able to take around $33,000 from the Kids Academy.
Officer Beth Kerr said one of the methods Seidler used was continuing to pay a former employee and diverting the money into her personal account.
Additionally, close to $11,000 in false claims were sent to the Department of Health and Human Services by Seidler, who then diverted those funds into her own account.
It was determined that there was probable cause to charge Seidler with felony theft from the Kids Academy, felony theft from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and criminal impersonation, also a felony.
Authorities were unable to locate Seidler and a warrant was issued for her arrest. On August 22, Seidler turned herself in at the Lincoln County Detention Center and was jailed.