Oregon woman allegedly stole, faked death

BEND, Ore. – State police arrested a former Central Oregon bookkeeper accused of faking her death after embezzling more than $225,000 from an employer.

Christine Marie Harris, 36, has been charged with aggravated theft and forgery, police said in a news release. She was taken into custody Friday in Prineville and booked into the Deschutes County Jail.

Harris worked for UDI Corp. in Redmond, Ore. Company President Steve Kulin said the alleged fraud started in 2009 and included roughly 200 checks, the Oregonian reported.

Kulin said the company’s office mysteriously burned to the ground in January 2011. Then last Sept. 4, his company received a note from Harris’ email account that was purportedly written by Harris’ mother. It notified the company of Harris’ death.

Days later, however, a fill-in bookkeeper discovered a check drawn on the company’s account for more than $3,000. Harris had cashed the check, Kulin said.