Crime & Safety

Howard High Official Accused of Stealing Credit Cards

Patricia Kelly Murray is charged with stealing from colleagues.

An assistant principal at is facing nearly 20 charges in three cases for credit card fraud, according to court records.

Patricia Kelly Murray, 40, admitted to stealing the cards from colleagues and using one of them to buy Christmas gifts for her family, the Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday. 

Murray allegedly stole a credit card from Susan Pennypacker Brown, principal at Laurel Woods Elementary School, during a meeting with a parent and child, according to reports. 

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According to the Sun, Murray is also accused of stealing a credit card from Long Reach High School Assistant Principal Shawn Hastings-Hauf and one from Amanda Malone, listed on HCPSS.org as a teacher at Harper's Choice Middle School. 

Court records show Murray, of Severna Park, is charged with spending more than $4,000 on the cards.

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Howard County Public School System spokeswoman Patti Caplan told the Sun that Murray has been on administrative leave since late January.

In August of last year, former Howard County Public Schools information technician  after pleading guilty to stealing more than $200,000 in computer equipment and reselling it on the online auction site eBay.


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