Principal Charged with Stealing from Colleagues

Patricia Kelly Murray of Severna Park is facing nearly 20 charges in three cases of credit card fraud, according to online court records.

Murray, 40, is an assistant principal at in Ellicott City and admitted to stealing the cards from colleagues and using one of them to buy Christmas gifts for her family, the Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday. 

Court records show Murray, who lives in the 700 block of Ticonderoga Avenue in Severna Park, is charged with spending more than $4,000 on the cards.

Howard County Public Schools spokeswoman Patti Caplan told the Sun that Murray has been on administrative leave since late January.

Murray allegedly stole a credit card from Susan Pennypacker Brown, principal at Laurel Woods Elementary School, during a meeting with a parent and child, according to reports. 

According to the Sun, Murray is also accused of stealing a credit card from Long Reach High School Assistant Principal Shawn Hastings-Hauf and one from Amanda Malone, listed on HCPSS.org as a teacher at Harper's Choice Middle School.