Fargo police: No danger to the public after accountant’s death

Spokeswoman Jessica Schindeldecker said Wednesday that a call for a medical assist came in at 7:36 a.m. Tuesday, and that when first responders arrived at 4357 13th Ave. S., the address of CF Financial Management, they found the body of Craig Fenske. He was 46 and lived in Hawley, Minn.

Schindeldecker said she could not comment on Fenske’s cause of death, but did confirm there was no danger to the general public.

Fenske’s death came days after he was charged Friday, Jan. 19, with three felonies in Clay County District Court. He faced counts of theft by misrepresentation, theft with intent to exercise temporary control of another’s property, and theft by transferring another’s property without consent.

Prosecutors accused Fenske of withdrawing $18,600 from the bank account of Lee Veterinary Clinic in Hawley from January 2017 to October 2017.

The clinic had noticed the missing money, and an outside auditor checked the business’ books and found 12 withdrawals ranging from $500 to $3,875, according to court documents.

The clinic confronted Fenske by email, and he replied “please don’t press charges on me, I will get this paid in full,” court documents stated.

On Nov. 28, Fenske sent a check from his business account to cover the stolen funds. When interviewed Jan. 9 by a detective from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Fenske said he was behind on his bills and needed money, court documents stated.