Woman accused of theft from boaters fund

Published 9:34 am Thursday, February 11, 2016

BAUDETTE  — A Baudette woman is accused of stealing from a fund she set up for the families of three fishermen who went missing on Lake of the Woods.

Twenty-eight-year-old Retina LaValla is charged with two counts of theft. The Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office said she was flown to a Bemidji hospital after being detained Tuesday night.

LaValla set up a GoFundMe page to help the families of the missing fishermen. She’s accused of taking money meant to help the families pay for the search and funeral expenses.

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The three men were reported missing after their capsized boat was found Oct. 3. The bodies of Justin Haugtvedt and Cody Ostendorf were found in October. Keith Ayers remains missing.