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Bank Manager Accused Of Swindling Over $1M From Accounts Found Dead

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A bank manager accused of stealing over $1 million from her employer, Anchor Bank, has died.

According to the Eagan Police Department, Cynthia Marie Van DuSartz was found in her garage just before 2 p.m. Sunday, March 6. Police said it appeared she hanged herself.

Van DuSartz was facing federal charges for knowingly embezzling, abstracting, purloining or misapplying roughly $1,114, 205.02.

In December, a customer called the West St. Paul bank to say he was missing money.

Charges stated Van DuSartz said she would look into it, but then left the bank and never returned his call. She was fired from the bank where she had worked for almost 30 years that same day.

Officials said an investigation found suspicious transactions were made on the customer's account dating back to November 2013.

In all, over $600,000 was missing from this victim's account.

Dakota County officials said the investigation revealed the money was being used at several casinos to gamble.

Van DuSartz turned herself into the police, and was charged and released after agreeing to have no contact with the bank and the victim.

In March, Van DuSartz was charged in federal court for purloining more than $1 million from Anchor Bank.

According to the police report, Van DuSartz's husband last texted her around 11 a.m. Sunday morning.

He said she had an appointment with the federal prosecutor on Monday morning to discuss "her fate." He believes this may be why she committed suicide.

She did leave a note in the kitchen for her husband, two daughters, family and friends.

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