COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (AP) - A northern Idaho woman who disappeared after being charged with embezzling $500,000 and is also being investigated for a possible role in the death of her husband has been taken into custody.
Lori Isenberg, 64, of Coeur d’Alene was booked into the Kootenai County Jail on Wednesday night.
Isenberg is charged with stealing $500,000 from the North Idaho Housing Coalition, which helps low- to moderate-income people buy homes. Isenberg was the organization’s director. She was charged in February and pleaded not guilty, posting a $75,000 bond. Isenberg at about that time also signed her homes over to her sister.
She failed to appear for her May 25 arraignment on a felony grand theft charge, and 1st District Court Judge Scott Wayman issued a $500,000 arrest warrant.
Court documents indicate Isenberg is also being investigated for a possible role in the death of her husband, 68-year-old Larry Isenberg.
In February, at about the same time the possible embezzlement became known, Lori Isenberg reported that Larry Isenberg fell from their boat on Lake Coeur d’Alene. His body was found in the lake in March. Officials say he had lethal levels of Benadryl in his body.
During Lori Isenberg’s absence, Police expanded their investigation into Larry Isenberg’s death to include family members, but no charges have been filed.
Her attorney, Erik Smith, did not return telephone messages Thursday seeking comment.
Court documents said the couple may have had marital problems before Larry Isenberg’s death. Investigators also say that handwritten changes made to Larry Isenberg’s will divided his estate so that Lori Isenberg’s children got 80 percent.
Court documents also said that one of Larry Isenberg’s friends became suspicious after receiving a text message from him the morning he was reported to have drowned. The friend told authorities that the text contradicted what the two men spoke about a few days earlier and included an emoji, something Larry Isenberg never used.
Investigators examined phones belonging to the couple and concluded that “Larry never used emojis in contrast to Lori’s regular use of emojis.”
Lori Isenberg was being held in the Kootenai County Jail on Thursday with a $500,000 bond.
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