Woman charged with taking church aid for tornado victims

PALMER, Mass. (RNS) A Massachusetts woman charged with larceny and fraud
denied Tuesday (June 7) that she stole donated items from a church that
were intended for victims of a devastating tornado.

Christine Lajewski, 47, of Ware, Mass., was charged with larceny
over $250 under false pretenses and fraud at her arraignment on Tuesday.
Police in Monson, where the June 1 tornado unleashed its lethal
fury, said Lajewski told volunteers at First Church of Monson that her
home and car were destroyed by the tornado in downtown Monson.

But Lajewski's court-appointed lawyer, Holly Battige, said Lajewski
told her she went to the church to volunteer, and to collect items for a
friend's sister from Monson.

Monson Detective Kristen Marciniec said after Lajewski told her
story, the church volunteers immediately loaded her car with $700 to
$800 worth of items -- baby formula and clothes, a $200 freezer, food,
paper products, toys, stuffed animals and a gazebo tent.

"She took several trips, in her own vehicle," Marciniec said.

Marciniec said Lajewski kept some of the items for herself, while
others were given to friends.

A judge released Lajewski on her own recognizance, but said she must
stay out of Monson, remain drug free and not commit any crimes.

Prosecutor Mary Partyka said a friend of Lajewski's contacted
authorities after she was told what Lajewski allegedly did in Monson.

Partyka said Lajewski had "bragged" about what she had done, and the
friend was "disgusted."