Update: Sheriff’s deputies in northwest Arizona say a woman whose body was found in the desert was the former tourism director in Farmington, N.M.

Mohave County sheriff’s spokeswoman Trish Carter said Thursday that the county medical examiner concluded that 41-year-old Aztec resident Debbie Dusenbery committed suicide. 

A handgun was found near the body.

The body was found after a man riding in the desert south of Lake Havasu City found a note on Dusenbery’s abandoned Jeep Thursday afternoon and called deputies. The note instructed the finder to call Farmington authorities.

Dusenbery disappeared after coming under suspicion for embezzling more than $200,000 from the city tourism department. She allegedly used the money to pay for trips for friends and family to Miami, Las Vegas and the Cayman Islands. 

Dusenbery resigned Jan. 17.

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This is the original story that was published in The New Mexican, Feb. 2, 2012. 

FARMINGTON -- The former Farmington tourism director under investigation for stealing money has been reported missing. 

A relative who was speaking with Debbie Dusenbery in recent days filed a missing persons report with the Farmington Police Department Saturday after concerns over her whereabouts grew. 

Farmington Police Sgt. Robert Perez said Dusenbery was reportedly en route to California. 

The Farmington Daily Times reports police are investigating whether Dusenbery may have embezzled more than $200,000 from the Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

Dusenbery allegedly used the money to pay for numerous extravagant trips for friends and family to Miami, Las Vegas, Nev., and the Cayman Islands. 

Employees at the tourism bureau were tipped off after Dusenbery paid for a guided elk hunt for her boyfriend. 

Dusenbery admits that for the last 12 months she made at least two transactions per month to pay her personal credit cards. In the same time frame, she made a payment of at least $1,500 each month on an equity loan she took out against her mother's residence, according to court records. 

Dusenbery resigned Jan. 17, days after tourism board members learned of the allegations and placed her on suspension. 

Police also continue to look into other organizations in which Dusenbery played a key role. 

In addition to being the executive director of the visitors bureau since 2004, Dusenbery also chaired the Freedom Days and was treasurer and board member for the Totah Festival. 

George Francis, board president of the Totah Festival, declined to comment specifically, but organization officials have concerns and are letting the investigation continue. 

"We have done what we can to see if there is a problem and have passed any information along to investigators," Francis said. 

Farmington police continue to look into all of those accounts. The investigation continues and "we have not ruled out the possibility that she was assisted by others," Perez said. 

City officials entered into a contract last week a local certified public accounting firm, which will conduct a full audit. 

"The instructions to the auditors are to follow the trail as far as it goes," Farmington City Manager Rob Mayes said. 

City officials also are addressing their concerns of the lack of oversight on the visitors bureau finances and reviewing all city-contracted organizations to ensure the proper controls are in place. 





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