The body recovered last week in the Potomac River in Allegany County was identified as that of a woman who admitted stealing money from a local fire department.
Patricia Leitzen, 81, was due in court Nov. 4 for violating probation in connection with an embezzlement case, according to Maryland court records.
In 2022, she admitted to embezzlement from the Flintstone Volunteer Fire Department's Auxiliary while she was the treasurer, a position she held for 35 years.
Her body was found in the Potomac River near the Fifteen Mile boat ramp.
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
