Embezzlement case reassigned to Howell County

A former public official is accused of embezzling money from the Oregon County Ambulance District, but before the wheels of justice can turn, the parties must agree on a courthouse and judge to hear the trial. Originally filed in Oregon County in July after an investigation completed by Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), the case has seen multiple requests for new judges, according to online records. 

 

In January, however, Oregon County Prosecutor Justin Kelly filed an objection to changing the venue to Cass County because, “KY3 and other Springfield news outlets are well within Cass County’s listening district, and the County is highlighted on the weather map. A search of Cass County on KY3 website, returns 32 results.”

 

A Change of Venue to Howell County was received on February 11. 

 

The defendant, Kenneth McKenzie, 58, of Canyon, Tex., is accused of embezzling money from an account benefitting first responders in the Oregon County Ambulance District while he was the director of that organization. The ambulance board’s president became suspicious when the department secretary reported McKenzie had instructed her to shred any bank statements that arrived in the mail during a  vacation when McKenzie would be absent from the office

 

Court documents report that there were, “numerous nefarious ATM withdrawals for $500 cash,” from an incidentals account for first responder use, separate from the ambulance district’s accounts, mostly funded by donations.

 

“McKenzie was the only person with a business card and access to the account,” reads the probable cause statement. 

 

Overall, twenty-eight thousand dollars were unaccounted for in withdrawals made from late 2023 to October 2024, according to court records. McKenzie resigned from his position as director on October 14, 2024. 

 

The investigation revealed a female witness who says she and McKenzie developed a romantic relationship, “outside of work.” This witness told MSHP investigators that McKenzie bought her, “a lot of things and gave her a lot of money,” including $6,500 in cash in addition to presents of varying value. The witness received the cash and presents during the same window of the suspicious withdrawals.

 

Due to the redactions in the court documents, it is unclear whether or not the secretary who reported the suspicious activity and romantic partner are the same person. 

 

By February 2025, Corporal Dakota Nash of MSHP contacted McKenzie and learned the defendant had moved to Texas. McKenzie refused an in-person meeting with Corporal Nash, saying that, “he has worked in public safety forever and does not trust police officers.”

 

This case is scheduled for a conference on April 20, at 3:00 p.m. before the Honorable R. David Ray.