Accused Glenolden mayor steps down

The mayor of Glenolden, Delaware County, has resigned, four days after being charged with stealing funds from his former funeral business, the borough announced today.

The resignation, made Tuesday, was effective immediately.

Last Friday, Theodore Bathurst, 68, was charged with theft, receiving stolen property and related offenses for taking more than $78,000 held in escrow for clients who had prepaid burial expenses. According to court documents, Bathurst, 68, sold the McCausland-Bathurst Funeral Home at 202 Chester Pike in August 2007. At the time, he signed a document saying all escrow accounts were up to date and fully funded.

The funeral home's current owner discovered the funds missing when she tried to access an escrow account upon the death of a client in March 2008.

Bathurst, a Republican, was mayor since 1994. He did not seek renomination in the spring primary.