NewsNation

Longtime employee accused of stealing $81K from Peabody Hotel

Denise Curry(SCSC)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A payroll manager at the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, is accused of embezzling nearly $82,000 from the company.

Denise Curry, 43, was charged with theft of property and released from jail Monday on a $20,000 bond.

Denise Curry(SCSC)

According to police, Curry had worked for the Peabody for 22 years and walked off the job in late July when confronted about the missing money.

Hotel administrators said Curry exited the building, leaving behind her purse and other belongings, and never returned.

MPD said the Peabody Hotel began its investigation of Curry when administrators discovered a $24,000 deposit from 1/22/2024 was missing.

Detectives said employees also learned that Curry placed two change orders with the bank for $10,000 each in April and never returned the money to the bank.

Peabody Hotel workers said over $21,000 was missing from Curry’s Office vault, and $16,000 was missing from another bank deposit. The hotel suffered a loss of $81,841.25.

NewsNation affiliate WREG contacted the Peabody Hotel, but so far no one is commenting on Curry’s arrest.

Curry is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.