Petro said his client hasn't said anything about wanting to leave Genola, where she was the town recorder since 1995. She was a signatory on the checks, but each check had to be approved by the city council and signed by another signatory, steps she never took, Peters said.

The town has since hired a different accounting firm and now have multiple people responsible for counting and dealing with money, not just one person, said Councilman Kendell Ewell.

Ewell was elected to the Genola Town Council in November and took office in January — after Wright was no longer the recorder.

"We felt very violated," said Ewell, who is also a resident of 30-plus years. "We've never had this kind of thing happen before. We felt hurt that somebody in a position of trust would do something like that."

But Ewell's concern doesn't extend to bitterness or revenge.

"I'd love to see us get the money back, any money that was taken," Ewell said. "I realize she probably doesn't have it, so I want to be patient. But I want her to be proactive ... in meeting her obligation."

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