Longtime employee allegedly stole $81,000 from the Peabody Hotel

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – A payroll clerk at the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis is accused of embezzling nearly $82,000 in company funds.

Denise Curry, 43, was charged with theft of property and released from jail on Monday on $20,000 bail.

According to police, Curry had worked for the Peabody for 22 years and quit his job in late July when he was confronted with the missing money.

Hotel management said Curry left the building, leaving her purse and other belongings behind, and never returned.

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According to MPD, the Peabody Hotel began investigating Curry when management discovered that a $24,000 bail bond dated January 22, 2024 was missing.

According to investigators, employees also learned that Curry had placed two draft orders for $10,000 each with the bank in April and never repaid the money to the bank.

Peabody Hotel officials said more than $21,000 was missing from Curry's office vault and $16,000 was missing from another bank deposit. The hotel suffered $81,841.25 in damages.

WREG has contacted the Peabody Hotel, but so far no one has commented on Curry's arrest.

Curry is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

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