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Wadena Man Charged With Stealing Bag Of Money Meant For Cancer Patient

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- More than a month after a bag of money raised for a cancer patient was stolen from a benefit event, police have filed charges.

The Wadena Police Department says they've charged William Joseph Stushek, 47, with two counts of felony theft for stealing a bag filled with nearly $3,000 of checks and cash from a bar on Jan. 9. The money was raised for Steve Hoyhtya, who is fighting lung, kidney and brain cancer.

Police say the checks were recovered -- they were stashed in the back of a toilet in the bar -- but the cash is still missing.

Hoyhtya's stepdaughter, Cari Burton, said hundreds of people packed into the small restaurant for the event. She said someone posing as a helper took the bag from the car in the parking lot.

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