FACTS FIRST
What we know, and what we don't yet.
Updated as of Oct 27, 2026 (CT)
Former Mary Abbott Children’s House director indicted on embezzlement charges over $219K
NORMAN — A multicounty grand jury has indicted Andree Denise Harper, 46, former executive director of the Mary Abbott Children’s House, on seven counts of embezzlement, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Oct. 26. Investigators allege she took more than $219,000 from the Norman child advocacy nonprofit between 2022 and 2025.
Harper is charged, not convicted. OSBI said she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What the charges allege
According to OSBI, a May 2025 audit of the organization found the money was drawn from several Abbott House accounts at multiple banks, plus Venmo and Amazon accounts. OSBI says the money paid for:
- personal plane tickets and luggage fees
- Airbnb stays
- plastic surgery charges
- Amazon and Venmo purchases
- fast-food restaurants
The Norman Transcript reports the indictment, unsealed Oct. 26, also alleges Harper wrote checks fraudulently and used the funds to pay dependent insurance expenses.
Timeline
- April 2025: Abbott House’s board identifies financial irregularities and ends Harper’s employment within the week, according to board President Julia Mettry.
- May 2025: Forensic audit, per OSBI.
- October 2025: Norman Police ask OSBI to investigate alleged misappropriation of funds. OSBI agents later present their report to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office.
- Oct. 8, 2026: The multicounty grand jury returns the seven-count indictment. Cleveland County District Court issues an arrest warrant.
- Oct. 24, 2026: Harper turns herself in at the Cleveland County Jail.
- Oct. 26, 2026: The indictment is unsealed and OSBI announces the arrest.
Bond: News 9 and Hoodline reported a $100,000 bond. The Norman Transcript reports the bond was cut from $100,000 to $50,000 on Oct. 23, the day before she surrendered.
What Abbott House says
In a statement, Mettry said the board hired independent financial experts and an attorney who specializes in nonprofit law. She said Abbott House has “successfully recovered the funds identified as misappropriated in the forensic audit.” She said the group had financial policies in place, but they were circumvented. It has since tightened those policies and hired an outside accounting firm to handle daily bookkeeping, payroll and financial services. Abbott House has a new executive director. The board said it won’t comment on the criminal case.
OSBI thanked the Norman Police Department and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office for their help.
What we don't know yet: Harper’s next court date, and whether she has entered a plea. Facts First has not independently confirmed who represents her. We’ll update this story when court records show more.
Sources
- KOKH Fox 25: Former Abbott House executive director charged with embezzlement (includes OSBI details and the full board statement)
- The Norman Transcript
- OU Daily
- The Oklahoman
- News 9
- Hoodline (summarizes the OSBI release)