Leonard Foundation missing thousands

FENNVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - Thousands of dollars are missing from the Wes Leonard Foundation, according to a member of the "Wes Leonard Heart Team".

The non-profit organization raises money to buy automatic external defibrillators for schools.

The organization is named after Fennville's late star point-guard and quarterback, Wes Leonard. He died of a heart attack in March after making a game-winning shot.

"It makes me sick," Maria Flores of the Wes Leonard Heart Team, said. "It makes me so sad that somebody could do that, just days after his passing."

According to Flores, $4,000 in T-shirt profits are missing. She told 24 Hour News 8 that Christine Thomspon-Vanderbok sold the shirts for $10 at the "Tastee Treet" in Fennville.

The money was supposed to go to the Wes Leonard family -- but they never saw any of it, Flores said.

"I thought, 'How is there no money? All the T-shirts are gone'."

The Allegan County Sheriff's Department confirmed they are investigating.

"Right now, I can tell you there has been an allegation raised in the misappropriation of funds and we are looking into that right now," Lt. Frank Baker said.

Lt. Baker also confirmed the Tastee Treet's owner, Christine Thomspon-Vanderbok, turned herself in Thursday on embezzlement charges related to Project Graduation 2011.

She's charged with "misappropriating" $200 to $1,000 from that project.

A 24 Hour News 8 crew went to the ice cream shop but was asked to leave.

"It's one thing to be involved in some type of theft or larceny," Lt. Baker said. "But when the victim is your own children, it makes it kinda extra special and hurtful."

The Sheriff's Department plans to have the missing Leonard money investigation on the Allegan County Prosecutor's desk sometime next week, Baker said.