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A large sum of money that was recently found inside the walls ofJoel Osteen’s church is said to be linked to a 2014 robbery case, according to theHouston Police Department.
On Friday, authorities in Texas released a social mediastatementthat police were summoned to the celebrity televangelist’s Lakewood Church on Nov. 10 around 2:30 p.m. local time.
There, police said that members of the church stated that “a large amount of money” — which included “cash, checks, and money orders” — was discovered inside a wall within the establishment amid a renovation project.
Per the Houston Police Department, burglary and theft officers responded and found “an undisclosed amount of money” upon their investigation. The funds, authorities noted, were “inventoried, documented, and left in the custody of Lakewood Church” as the money was “property found on its premises.”
Police added that evidence from the discovered checks suggests that the money could be connected to a theft report that was previously placed in March 2014. That amount was undisclosed at the time, authorities said.
“Recently, while repair work was being done at Lakewood Church, an undisclosed amount of cash and checks were found. Lakewood immediately notified the Houston Police Department and is assisting them with their investigation,” read the statement. “Lakewood has no further comment at this time.”
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Previously, when the initial theft took place in 2014, a church employee discovered funds were stolen from the church’s safe, a Houston Police spokesman explained toTheHoustonChronicleat the time.
In a statement years ago, the Lakewood Church said that the “funds were fully insured, and we are working with our insurance company to restore the stolen funds to the church,” the publication reported.
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The worker — only identified as Justin, perABC 13andKHOU 11— revealed that he was the one who found the money when he called intoThe Morning Bullpen with George Mo and Erik.
“I went ahead and contacted the maintenance supervisor that was there, and I turned it all in,” he added.
The investigation currently remains ongoing, with the Houston Police Department noting: “No other information is being released at this time.”
source: people.com
