A former secretary for St. Dunstan Catholic Church in Garden City turned herself in this morning on a felony embezzlement charge, police said.Debra Kilyanek, 54, of Garden City is charged with embezzlement of more than $100,000 and using a computer to commit a felony, said Garden City Police Lt. David White.
White said Kilyanek was cooperative and was arraigned this morning in 21st District Court in Garden City.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy is expected to detail the charges surrounding the embezzlement investigation during a press conference at 1:30 p.m.
Kilyanek was fired in February and Pastor Donald Demmer, who served at St. Dunstan for more than 20 years, was place on medical leave in June by the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Demmer has denied any wrongdoing. Worthy will announce today whether he will face any criminal charges.
Garden City police said in September that they were investigating allegations of embezzlement and unpaid federal payroll taxes involving a former office employee of the church.
A financial audit found that payroll taxes for parish employees -- totaling $1.4 million with projected interest and penalties -- had gone unpaid in the last five years, Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss told parishioners in a letter in September.
The amount allegedly embezzled "is substantial -- in the tens of thousands -- but investigators have asked us not to publicize the precise figures at this time," Reiss said in the letter.
The archdiocese described Demmer in an Oct. 2 statement as a problem gambler who improperly advanced parish funds.
Demmer acknowledged that he occasionally gambled, telling the Free Press last month that he took a few trips to Las Vegas with family and friends, but not with parish money.
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