SAN ANTONIO - Investigators with the Bexar County District Attorney's office tell me they believe they know who stole thousands of dollars from South San football funds.
I first broke the story last October about how auditors hired by the district had discovered the money was missing. Now I can tell you the criminal investigation into the theft is focusing on a former employee.
Her name is Silvia Neira.
Last November Neira retired from South San ISD after having worked there for 35 years. She was former athletic director Gary Durbon's secretary and both were reassigned to other jobs after the scandal broke.
Now investigators say Neira is their prime suspect in the theft.
My sources tell me they zeroed in on Neira because she was the person given the cash from football ticket sales, the only person with access to the safe where it was kept and Neira was in charge of depositing the money.
But investigators believe she put thousands in her pocket and deposited what was left over.
I went by Neira's house to try and talk with her. Her husband declined to make any comment on camera and said his wife was not home. When I told him his wife is the prime suspect in the theft of football funds, he said he would take my card and ask her to call me. I have yet to get that call.
I'm also told the amount investigators believe the former secretary pocketed is much higher than the $22,000 auditors estimate is missing.
That figure could now be as high as $80,000 - according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Investigators also tell me they do not have any evidence at this time that former coach Gary Durbon got any of the stolen funds. I called and left him a message but have not heard back.
I'll keep tabs on this story and let you know what happens next.
