A former elementary school employee in southern Indiana is facing criminal charges for allegedly taking more than $50,000 in school monies.
The Columbus Police Department announced Thursday that 56-year-old Lilly Parker was arrested on various felony charges following a months-long theft investigation that began in December 2025.
Parker worked at Southside Elementary School in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, according to police. Another employee at the school informed CPD detectives that during an audit, they discovered evidence that Parker may have been diverting monies from the extracurricular accounts.
Parker, as the principal’s secretary, was in charge of monitoring the school’s athletic, field trip, and concession monies. She also handled deposits, accounting records, and check preparation.
According to court documents acquired by FOX59, investigators discovered that Parker allegedly took $50,130.20 between June 7, 2023, and December 10, 2025.
According to the records, Parker signed many checks to herself and spent the money on personal purposes, including her home mortgage. According to the records, the assistant principal discovered fraudulent signatures on numerous of the cheques.
The matter was assigned to a detective from the Indiana State Board of Accounts and then forwarded to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office for further investigation and evaluation.
Parker faced formal charges on Tuesday. She is accused of forgery, theft, counterfeiting, and official misconduct, all of which are level six felonies.
Parker is now in detention at the Bartholomew County Jail.
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