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Missing EMT charged in $106K theft

Posted at 11:27 PM, Mar 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-04 23:27:00-05

RISING SUN, Ind. – An EMT who has been missing for more than a week is facing a charge that he stole from the emergency medical service that employed him.

Craig Whitham has been charged with one count of theft for allegedly stealing $106,000 from Aurora Emergency Rescue, Prosecutor Aaron Negangard said.

The private, non-profit company operates on an annual budget of $200,000.

Whitham worked for Aurora Emergency Rescue for 22 years and became the company’s treasurer in January of 2015.

The president of Aurora Emergency Rescue, Ed Opp, reported discrepancies in the company’s books, and officials questioned Whitham about it Feb. 22, shortly before he disappeared.

"When you trust someone so much ... we thought we had checks in place to catch his, but he beat those," Opp said.

When Witham was questioned about the money, he admitted to being responsible, investigators said in an affidavit. He told police he made unauthorized ATM transactions, wrote checks to himself and paid himself more than his salary by issuing both paychecks and direct deposit payments.

Witham also told police he has a serious gambling addiction and had spent almost all of the money on gambling, mostly at Rising Star Casino, according to the affidavit. He also spent some of the money at Belterra Casino in Vevay, Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg and Harrah Casino in New Albany.

While Whitham is facing the theft charge, his family and friends in Rising Sun and elsewhere have been hoping for his safe return. He left his wallet and cellphone behind.

He may be driving a silver 2014 Dodge Journey with Indiana license plate WH 6348.

"If he's living with anybody, they need to come forward or they will face consequences as well," Negangard said.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Rising Sun Police Department at 812-438-3737.

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