Losing a loved one is hard enough without someone using that grief to line their own pockets. That’s exactly what a family in McQueeney, Texas says happened to them, and now the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to steer clear of a woman accused of running a months-long charity scam.
The case centers on Tyaballa “Ty” McQueenie, a 20-year-old who died in a motorcycle crash in Seguin back on March 5th. His parents, Shawna Kreidner and Lonnie Abel, were still grieving when they started getting messages about a neighbor allegedly selling benefit plates in Ty’s name to raise funds for his funeral. The problem: the family says they never authorized it, never saw a dime, and had no idea it was happening until people started asking why they hadn’t received the plates they’d already paid for.
That neighbor, identified as Lisa McCulka, allegedly didn’t stop there. A receipt from Red Carpet Auto Sales shows a $30 purchase for two benefit plates tied to the scheme — just one of what investigators say are several similar incidents. A nearby business, Easy On, says McCulka also came in offering to sell “fresh cuts of beef,” collected $200 upfront, delivered nothing but a stock photo, then allegedly tried to squeeze the buyer for more cash over a supposed flat tire.
Sheriff’s records reportedly show McCulka’s history with theft and fraud charges stretches back to the late 1990s, which makes this less a one-off bad decision and more of a pattern investigators are now trying to fully map out.
What Investigators Are Looking Into
Guadalupe County detectives are actively building a case and want to hear from anyone who may have handed over money to McCulka for a plate sale, a benefit fundraiser, or anything similar.
They’re working to track down the full number of victims and total dollar amount involved, which suggests this may be bigger than the handful of cases that have come to light so far.
A Warning Worth Sharing
The Sheriff’s Office posted the warning publicly, urging folks not to give McCulka money “for any reason.” That’s about as direct as a law enforcement statement gets, and it’s a good reminder that benefit sales — plate lunches, car washes, T-shirt fundraisers, all the classic small-town ways communities rally around a grieving family — only work because people trust the person holding the cash box.
When that trust gets abused, it makes everyone a little more hesitant to help the next family that actually needs it.
Stories like this one sting a little extra out here, since car culture and small-town fundraising go hand in hand — bake sales, benefit rides, plate lunches at the parts store. It’s a shame when someone exploits that goodwill, especially tied to a young man’s death.
Here’s hoping the investigation turns up everyone affected and gets them some accountability.