The Senatobia couple was arrested in Southaven Monday outside First Security Bank’s Southaven branch after a man first believed to have been a co-conspirator tried to cash a hand-written check on the Town of Como while the Killebrews waited outside. A bank official became suspicious and notified Southaven police.

An MBI agent said that Killebrew had already been under scrutiny, but Monday’s attempt to cash the check prompted them to proceed with charges based on evidence gathered during their investigation of bank account activity during March and April. Investigation into prior months’ activity will continue.

The town clerk was initially charged with one count of embezzlement and nine counts of uttering forgery. Her husband was charged with two counts of conspiracy.

MBI sources said that Killebrew is alleged to have forged the mayor’s signature on checks. Checks on the town’s bank account require both the mayor’s and clerk’s signatures.

During the investigation, Como Mayor Everette Hill signed affidavits for agents stating that the signatures on nine checks collected as evidence were not his, MBI sources said.

The man who entered the bank to cash the forged check was released shortly after his arrest Monday and is not expected to be charged. MBI investigators said they are looking for another man who may also face charges.

Panola Justice Court Judge Mike Wilson set bonds at $33,000 and $15,000 for wife and husband, respectively. The couple was to be eligible for release on bond after MBI agents had searched their home, a search that was expected to have been completed Wednesday afternoon.

Background
Killebrew was hired as part-time town clerk in October, 2012 following the resignation of the former town clerk in August, 2012.

Killebrew quickly caught up the town’s utility billing, which had languished in the two-months’ absence of a clerk creating a cash flow crunch that impacted the town in late 2012 and early 2013.

After Como’s new administration took office in July, 2013, there were indications of dissatisfaction among the mayor and aldermen with Killebrew’s job performance. The mayor and aldermen rehired all municipal employees for the first 90 days. When the probationary period had ended in October, only Killebrew and one other employee, after a discussion among town elected officials in executive session, were left on probation.

The town clerk was kept on probationary status until her termination on April 10. Prior to that meeting, Killebrew told The Panolian that she had submitted her resignation but had offered to help carry on the town’s business until her replacement could be hired. During the termination there was praise for Killebrew’s perceived performance as clerk, but also reservations.

“I don’t how great she (is),” said alderwoman Rachel Powell, a consistent critic of the town clerk. “Lots of things been going on; I don’t know if y’all heard everything,” Powell said.

Following the April 10 termination action, aldermen, on the advice of town attorney John Calvin Patterson, also voted unanimously to remove Killebrew as a signatory to the town’s bank accounts.

“The locks will be changed tomorrow on the outside of the city hall to make sure there won’t be (any) keys running around out there,” alderman John Walton said.

“I want the police to watch city hall tonight,” Powell said.

Fellow town officials attending a special meeting called the following Wednesday, April 16, to discuss “personnel issues” would apparently learn that Powell’s statement had proved prescient. The mayor and aldermen voted unanimously to go into executive session for their discussion. No action was taken, but town board attorney John Calvin Patterson apparently briefed the mayor and aldermen on the investigation