Former Shelton cemetery manager faces civil suit

The former office manager of Shelton Memorial Park cemetery is facing a civil lawsuit in addition to criminal charges for theft and money-laundering.

The Shelton Cemetery Association sued Dustee Munro in Mason County Superior Court June 6, seeking recovery of $265,700 she allegedly stole.

“The Shelton Police Department’s declaration of probable cause recommends that plaintiff should seek recovery of $265,702.47 from defendant, including for misappropriated funds of $118,957.40, undocumented charges of cost to customers of $126,945.07, unpaid family member occupied sites of $7,800.00, and related forensic review costs of $12,000.00, plus any costs associated with litigation,” the complaint states.

“Dustee Munro is still facing criminal charges in conjunction with the civil suit. The trial for the criminal case is scheduled to start on August 20th.

“We are also actively informing the community about this situation,” the Shelton Cemetery Association wrote in an email to the Journal Tuesday.

Munro was arrested August 16, 2023, on felony theft and money-laundering charges, according to court documents.

A forensic auditor found suspicious payments in Munro’s bank account that directly matched up with missing cash from cemetery customer payments, according to the probable cause document.

Munro pleaded not guilty and has an Aug. 20 trial date before Judge Monty Cobb.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tracey Munger filed a notice to seek an exceptional sentence due to a major economic offense and because Munro used her “position of trust, confidence, or fiduciary responsibility to facilitate the commission of the offense,” court documents state.

It’s unclear if Munro’s criminal attorney, Tim Lewis of Puget Law Group, is representing her in the civil matter.

Lewis did not respond to a request for comment before the Journal’s press time.