Couple who died stole grant money; 3 others charged

PLATTE, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota couple who died in a murder-suicide last year stole hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to be used to help improve Native Americans' college readiness, among other things, state Attorney General Marty Jackley said Wednesday.

Investigators believe the total amount that Scott and Nicole Westerhuis stole exceeded $1 million, based on a review of financial records. Three other people associated with Mid-Central Educational Cooperative and the GEAR UP college-readiness grant program are also facing felony charges stemming from the investigation launched after Scott Westerhuis shot his wife and their four children before setting fire to their house near Platte and killing himself.

http://www.dailyamerican.com/news/nation/ag-couple-who-died-stole-grant-money-others-charged/article_59437fa8-42f2-5aeb-abc6-b76655d20553.html