Attorney General's Office won't confirm investigation into Lansing-area nonprofit 'theft'
CHARLOTTE — Five days after a staffer at an Eaton County nonprofit that provides domestic violence and homeless outreach services established an online fundraiser and announced the organization had been the victim of theft, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office hasn't responded to confirm whether it's investigating the missing funds.
Tracie Socey, the outreach coordinator for SIREN/Eaton Shelter, said Wednesday that staff notified Nessel's office as soon as they realized the funds were missing in May. She did not disclose how much money was missing from the nonprofit.
"We can't really talk about the specifics," Socey said. "The Attorney General's office is heavily involved."
Kim Bush, a spokesperson for Nessel's office, said Wednesday morning she was unable to confirm if the office was investigating a theft from SIREN.
"We cannot comment on any ongoing investigations," Bush said in a text message Wednesday evening.
A message left with Bush Thursday morning seeking confirmation that Nessel's office is investigating the incident at SIREN wasn't immediately returned.
Officials with the Eaton County Sheriff's Office and the Charlotte Police Department said SIREN didn't contact their agencies about a theft.
The online fundraiser Socey established for SIREN seeks $300,000. It's enough to ensure the nonprofit can avoid selling its domestic violence emergency shelter site and operate for the next several months, Socey said.
Thursday morning it had raised just over $800.
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SIREN has been without an executive director for three weeks, Socey said. Former director Teri Looney left the position in May, she said. Looney now works as the executive director at Loaves and Fishes Ministries in Lansing. A message was left for her there Wednesday afternoon.
In 2022, SIREN, which has seven full-time employees, sheltered nearly 200 families, Socey said, and the organization, established in 1994, is currently housing 36 families.
The agency had about $1.4 million in revenue in 2020, according to an online tax document.
Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ .
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Attorney General's Office won't confirm investigation into SIREN 'theft'
