Detroit Lakes (trfnews.i234.me) — A trusted staff member of the Detroit Lakes School District is now at the center of a criminal investigation that has rocked the local education and athletics community. Abby Lynn Pettit, 44, of Detroit Lakes, is facing multiple theft charges after being accused of embezzling over $10,000 in funds meant for school sports and student activities.
Pettit, who served as the administrative assistant for the Activities & Athletics Department, was charged in Becker County District Court with three counts of felony theft and two counts of misdemeanor theft.
🔎 How the Investigation Began
The allegations surfaced on September 12, 2024, when the school superintendent contacted Detroit Lakes Police regarding suspicious financial discrepancies. Pettit abruptly resigned that same day after being confronted with questions about missing money.
According to court records and investigators:
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Pettit was in charge of collecting and depositing funds for fundraisers, concessions, and student activities.
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Concerns were raised by several coaches and staff about missing deposits from multiple school sports and student groups.
💸 Key Accounts with Missing Funds
🔹 Girls’ Basketball – Feb. 2024
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$11,700 raised at a tournament.
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Only $4,432 deposited.
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Coach identified a $6,298 shortfall.
🔹 Boys’ Basketball – March 2024
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$17,980.05 counted by a local bank and coaches.
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Pettit deposited only $4,777.05 in cash, creating a $4,545 discrepancy.
🔹 Boys’ Hockey – Oct.–Dec. 2023
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Pettit made a $12,500 apparel order for team warmups.
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Parents were told to reimburse via Venmo or check to her directly.
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Only $7,300 was accounted for, with $1,500 reported missing.
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Personal Venmo records showed payments from parents for warmups that never reached the school (DL Online).
🔹 Target Group Fundraisers – Spring 2024
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$577.40 was placed in the school safe and later handed to Pettit.
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Only $224.88 was deposited, a $352.52 discrepancy.
🔹 Prom Ticket Sales – 2022-2023
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Pettit allegedly accepted $160 in Venmo payments for prom tickets that never made it to school accounts.
💳 Bank Records Raise More Red Flags
Subpoenas issued for Pettit’s personal bank accounts revealed a staggering $89,277 in cash deposits between April 2022 and September 2024, despite no evidence of any income from another job. The only known payment to the school district was a $1,428 check for a coach bus trip reimbursement.
⚖️ Charges and Upcoming Court Date
The Becker County District Attorney has charged Pettit with:
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Three felony counts of theft, each potentially carrying up to 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine (Minnesota Statutes § 609.52).
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Two misdemeanor theft charges.
Her first court appearance is scheduled for June 26, 2025.
🧠 Did you know?
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School embezzlement cases are often hard to detect because they involve trusted employees and minimal oversight over cash handling.
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Minnesota law classifies theft of over $1,000 as a felony, especially if committed as part of a position of trust.
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The use of personal payment apps like Venmo in school finance is discouraged because it lacks institutional accountability.
🔗 I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News