Woman arrested, accused of stealing $175K from former employer

PADUCAH, Ky. (KBSI) – A woman is accused of stealing about $175,000 from her former employer in Paducah.

Stephanie A. Burkhart, 48, of Lone Oak Road, faces a charge of theft by unlawful taking (more than $10,000).

Paducah police say she admitted stealing from her employer for at least the past five years.

A local business owner called police March 28 to report a former employee had been stealing from the business. He told police his former bookkeeper, Stephanie A. Burkhart, had stolen more than $100,000 since 2020.

Burkhart quit her job the first of last month.

A detective interviewed Burkhart Monday. She admitted stealing about $175,000 from the business to pay rent and routine personal bills, fund trips and pay for car repairs, etc., according to the Paducah Police Department.

Burkhart was arrested and booked into McCracken County Regional Jail.