Woman charged with taking aid for tornado victims

PALMER, Mass. (RNS) A Massachusetts woman charged with larceny and fraud denied Tuesday (June 7) that she stole donated items from a church that were intended for victims of a devastating tornado. Christine Lajewski, 47, of Ware, Mass., was charged with larceny over $250 under false pretenses and fraud at her arraignment on Tuesday. Police […]

PALMER, Mass. (RNS) A Massachusetts woman charged with larceny and fraud denied Tuesday (June 7) that she stole donated items from a church that were intended for victims of a devastating tornado.

Christine Lajewski, 47, of Ware, Mass., was charged with larceny over $250 under false pretenses and fraud at her arraignment on Tuesday.

Police in Monson, where the June 1 tornado unleashed its lethal fury, said Lajewski told volunteers at First Church of Monson that her home and car were destroyed by the tornado in downtown Monson.


But Lajewski’s court-appointed lawyer, Holly Battige, said Lajewski told her she went to the church to volunteer, and to collect items for a friend’s sister from Monson.

Monson Detective Kristen Marciniec said after Lajewski told her story, the church volunteers immediately loaded her car with $700 to $800 worth of items — baby formula and clothes, a $200 freezer, food, paper products, toys, stuffed animals and a gazebo tent.

“She took several trips, in her own vehicle,” Marciniec said.

Marciniec said Lajewski kept some of the items for herself, while others were given to friends.

A judge released Lajewski on her own recognizance, but said she must stay out of Monson, remain drug free and not commit any crimes.

Prosecutor Mary Partyka said a friend of Lajewski’s contacted authorities after she was told what Lajewski allegedly did in Monson. Partyka said Lajewski had “bragged” about what she had done, and the friend was “disgusted.”

(Lori Stabile writes for The Republican in Springfield, Mass.)

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