Former Director of Substance Abuse Recovery Center Accused of Embezzlement

The former director of a women’s substance abuse recovery center in Canaan is accused of embezzling nearly $100,000 or more from the facility.

State police began the investigation into 35-year-old Tara Desjardins, of Meriden, on Feb. 16, 2016, when the owner of the Eden Hill Recovery Retreat for Women contacted them and revealed suspicions that a former employee made several unauthorized purchases over a span of years.

The owner of the facility reported confronting Desjardins in October 2015 and asked about a lack of profits. Desjardins’ response was that there were extra expenses that month and that there would be an improvement the following month, according to the police report, and the owner of the facility fired Desjardins just after Christmas.

The owner of the facility and Desjardins communicated over the next two months about the money and Desjardins admitted to using the company credit card to make personal purchases and promised to repay $16,400, according to the court documents.

The owner of the facility, however, determined that $28,747 was missing, according to police.

When detectives reviewed financial information, however, they determined that much more was missing, including excess payments to Desjardins’ boyfriend, who did some work at the facility, according to police.

Authorities believe Desjardins embezzled between $99,650.29 and $158,263.74.

She has been charged with first- and third-degree larceny, embezzlement and bond was set at $100,000.

Desjardins could not post bond and was held, according to police.

Contact Us