INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Members of a metropolitan church are shocked at separate allegations of embezzlement and child molestation, according to news reports.
The Examiner reported that William "Dwight" Free, former business manager at Tri-City Ministries, is under investigation in connection with a $1.4 million theft that occurred between 1996 and 2000. Free was business manager from 1989 through 2002.
Investigators declined to reveal the method of the alleged embezzlement or why Free is a suspect. Federal authorities from the U.S. Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force took over the investigation on July 30.
"Until we sit down and go through the documentation, we can't say exactly what happened," said Detective Ritch Meadors.
KMBC-TV reported the church is facing $15 million in debt.
Earlier in the week, police investigated an alleged sexual misconduct complaint. In a letter to members, church officials said John Logan, a former deacon at the church, admitted to at least one incident of sexual misconduct with a minor. The letter cautioned members to keep their children away from Logan.
Logan was charged and jailed in lieu of $500,000 bond, according to the television news report
