When $27,000 goes missing

WEYAUWEGA — Carrie L. Doughty, a caregiver from New London, was charged with theft of movable property valued between $10,000 and $100,000, a Class G felony. The charge alleges Doughty, 52, intentionally took $27,670 in cash from a safe belonging to two elderly victims.
The investigation started on Oct. 21 when the male victim, 82, of Weyauwega, called the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office to report $27,000 missing from an unlocked safe in his home. He suspected one of his wife’s two caretakers, Doughty and another woman. Doughty had been caring for his wife for the past couple years. She is wheelchair-bound from a stroke and was unable to provide a statement to investigators.
The victim informed Deputy Erik Fritz he discovered the missing cash when he noticed a few $100 bills on his nightstand. The money, which he and his wife intended as an inheritance for their two children, was kept in a plastic, re-sealable bag within the safe in the bedroom. He and his two children, were the only people with permission to access the safe, and he noted there was no sign of forced entry into the house.
On the day the theft was noticed, Doughty was at the residence from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the other caretaker, was there from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The victim noted that Doughty was in the process of filing for bankruptcy and frequently went on vacations that she posted on social media.
Deputy Fritz and detectives spoke with both caretakers and the two children. The other caretaker denied taking the cash and claimed she was only briefly in the bedroom to tend to the bed. The two children confirmed their knowledge of the cash and its purpose but denied involvement.
Deputy Fritz spoke with Doughty on Oct. 26 at her residence. She volunteered that she was filing for bankruptcy and claimed the victim had recently given her $2,500 in cash for two months of services because she was “making too much money” and might have to take time off. She described spending approximately 10 minutes alone in the bedroom making the bed during her shifts. Doughty consented to a buccal swab for DNA comparison.
On Oct. 31, Doughty was interviewed by Detective Sergeants Alec Brockman and Jason Claussen. During the interview, Doughty initially denied entering the safe. She admitted that the victim had previously shown her the cash, describing the money in the zip-lock bag with paper bands, an accurate detail. She later contradicted herself and admitted to touching the handle and manipulating the dial of the safe one day, stating she felt the victim should lock it. Doughty also confessed to keeping her cash payments from the victim “off the books” from her to circumvent her bankruptcy.
When pressed by the detectives regarding her honesty, Doughty’s demeanor changed. She eventually admitted to taking the money, stating she took “a little bit each time” but didn’t know the total amount. She estimated she had been stealing for three to four months, beginning a couple of weeks after the victim showed her the cash. Doughty stated she used the money toward bills. When informed the total missing was approximately $27,000, Doughty responded, “Oh my God,” having only guessed $5,000 was stolen. She estimated she might have $10,000 remaining.
Doughty consented to a search of her home in New London. Officers recovered $4,332 in cash: $82 from her wallet in her car, $900 from a freezer in the detached garage and $3,350.00 from a safe underneath her bed.
The victim later told detectives he believed showing Doughty the money “may have tempted her.” Following the contact, Doughty left four voicemails for D/S Brockman, including one where she offered to pay an additional $6,000 back and another where she mentioned her attorney. Brockman subsequently requested all future communication come from her attorney.