Third ex-Columbus Zoo executive pleads guilty to grand theft, fraud

DELAWARE, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A third ex-Columbus Zoo executive has pleaded guilty to charges in connection to the theft of $2.3 million.

Tracy Murnane, 65, of Westerville, pleaded guilty to eight charges on Monday in Delaware County Common Pleas court, including grand theft, telecommunications fraud, forgery, and more. A former purchasing agent for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Murnane was accused of using stolen zoo funds to purchase cars and attend events at Nationwide Arena and the Schottenstein Center.

A judge order him to pay $90,000 in restitution and to be sentenced on Sept. 23, a delayed sentencing date as Murnane is set to be a witness in the jury trial of former CEO Tom Stalf . That trial is set to begin on Aug. 6.

A 2021 investigation by the law firm Porter Wright alleged that four former executives for the Columbus Zoo misused zoo funds to attend sporting events, allow family members to live in zoo-owned houses, award a no-bid contract for construction at The Wilds, and make other personal purchases.

With Murnane’s guilty plea, three of the former executives have pleaded guilty. Former marketing director Pete Fingerhut pleaded guilty to 16 charges on July 2 and will also be sentenced on Sept. 23. Former chief financial officer Gregory Bell pleaded guilty in October.

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