Woodbridge Girl Scout Leader Fired In Mix-Up Over Cookie 'Theft'

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Wednesday delivered quite the plot twist in the now-infamous Woodbridge Girl Scout cookie caper. The story rapidly made national headlines: On Friday, Jan. 18 someone allegedly stole an envelope containing $1,200 in checks and cash from the Woodbridge/Carteret Girl Scout troop selling cookies at the Woodbridge Center Mall.

Now today, the Woodbridge police department says this has all been a giant mix-up, and that the Girl Scout troop leader who originally reported the theft even admitted the money may have been accidentally thrown away. That Scout leader, a Woodbridge resident named Jessica Medina, filed the original police report about the alleged theft, and she posted extensively on her personal Facebook page about the money being stolen.

"An exhaustive investigation into the alleged theft of Girl Scout cookie sale monies has concluded with a finding of insufficient evidence to support the theft as initially reported," said Woodbridge police, in a long statement released by the Township Wednesday. (The statement, in its entirety, is below.)

According to Woodbridge Twp., Medina agreed with the police department's findings, speculating that perhaps the envelope containing the money was accidentally discarded with the trash as the Scouts cleaned up the area.

Medina did not immediately get back to Patch today when asked to confirm the Township's assertions.

In another twist, Medina has also been removed by the Girl Scouts of Central and South Jersey for the incident, the organization told Patch.

"We are surprised and very saddened at the turn of events," said Ginny Marino, CEO of The Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ. "The Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey expects the highest standards of fiscal responsibility and ethical behavior from our volunteers ... To that end, GSCNSJ has removed this troop leader from her position as a Girl Scout volunteer. We will continue working closely and cooperating fully with law enforcement concerning this issue. Our focus now is helping our girls to move forward with their cookie season."

Woodbridge police said they first received a report on Friday, Jan. 18 at 5:31 p.m. of an alleged theft of money from a Girl Scout cookie sales table, which was located at the entrance to Boscov’s at the Woodbridge Center Mall. The report, filed by Troop leader Medina, alleged that sometime between 4:20 p.m. and 4:50 p.m. that day she had placed proceeds from the cookie sale (approximately $500 cash and several checks) in an envelope, which was reportedly left unattended on the cookie sale display table. Sometime thereafter, Medina discovered that the envelope was missing and reported the alleged theft to Woodbridge police.

"The WPD Detective Bureau launched an immediate investigation, which, among other leads, focused on Medina’s Facebook post that the theft was captured on surveillance video and that a male suspect, accompanied by an elderly woman with a walker, was responsible for the theft. Detectives identified and located the woman with the walker and her companion referenced by Medina in her Facebook post — the individuals were subsequently interviewed and were eliminated as possible suspects," said Woodbridge Twp. in the statement. "A full review of any/all surveillance video in and around the area of Boscov’s department store and Woodbridge Center Mall failed to show the proceeds envelope on the sales table and the alleged theft was not captured on video."

From there, Woodbridge police interviewed individual Girl Scouts, their parents and any witnesses who may have been around the cookie table that day. Nobody had observed a money envelope on the table at any time, they all told police.

Furthermore, the cash proceeds of that day's cookie sale were secured in a cash box that was present on the table — not in the envelope.

"Subsequent interview(s) with Medina revealed inconsistencies relative to the disposition of the cookie sale monies; specifically Medina advised detectives that the money she reported as stolen were not proceeds of the cookie sale, but was money previously submitted by the Girl Scouts to pay for scouting events such as roller skating and the Daddy-Daughter dance," Woodbridge Twp. said. "When detectives inquired as to why she (Medina) brought this money to the mall, she (Medina) indicated that she was planning on preparing a bank deposit and taking the money to the bank."

"On Tuesday, Jan. 29, Woodbridge police conducted a final interview with Medina and advised her that the investigation, interviews and review of surveillance video did not support the theft of Girl Scout cookie monies as reported," said Woodbridge police. "An exhaustive investigation into the alleged theft of Girl Scout cookie sale monies has concluded with a finding of insufficient evidence to support the theft allegation as initially reported."

Woodbridge police said that after consulting with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office they have determined there was no alleged theft of cookie sale money and the case is now closed.

Since the story was first reported, many people, including celebrities and corporations, said they would donate to Girl Scout Troop 80062. Meanwhile, the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey thanked everyone who donated, but said they covered the losses of the troop.

Sweet 'N Low, the artificial sugar company, contacted Patch this week to say they will be donating to the girls. The hosts of the popular CBS TV show "The Talk" said on-air last week they would be donating $1,200 to the troop. A retired New York State Supreme Court judge who lives in Florida read the story on Patch and said he would donate (he sent Patch a copy of the check he mailed to Girl Scout headquarters). News 12 New Jersey reported that a Woodbridge resident named Mick Kless also personally gave the troop $1,200.

This GoFundMe page that someone started for the troop was shut down by the national Girl Scouts, saying that type of fundraising was prohibited by the Girl Scouts.

All donations were handled by the national Girl Scout organization, and a spokeswoman said they are getting in contact with everyone who donated.

Pictured: Girl Scouts sell cookies as a winter storm moves in on February 8, 2013 in New York City. The scouts did brisk business, setting up shop in locations around Midtown Manhattan on National Girl Scout Cookie Day. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)