The Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office charged Austin Tyler Wren (DOB 1998) with stealing.
Wren's bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety.
From the probable cause statement:
I made contact with Victim One, owner of Rebath. Victim One stated Austin Wren was responsible for managing company finances and had authorized access to company bank accounts, financial records, book keeping records, and other accounting documents for the business.Victim One stated that on September 8, 2026, Austin Wren contacted him by telephone and admitted he had been stealing money from company accounts. Victim One stated Wren admitted to taking approximately $500, 000 from the company.
Victim One further stated Wren advised he had been searching for ways to avoid going to jail and researching ways to repay the money.
Victim One stated he immediately contacted Witness One and requested she conduct a review of the company's financial records and bank accounts due to Wren's admission.
Witness One stated that while reviewing available financial records she observed numerous expenditures and transactions that appeared unrelated to legitimate business purposes.
Witness One stated these transactions included expenditures to Whatnot, casino-related transactions, and other personal expenditures. Witness One advised the suspicious transactions she identified exceeded approximately $250, 000.
Victim One stated that when he reviewed company account balances in January of 2026, the company maintained between approximately $750,000 and $800,000 in available funds. Victim One stated that after Wren's admission and review of the accounts, the account balance was found to be less than $200, 000.
Victim One stated the company had also received approximately $250,000 from FEMA assistance, insurance proceeds, and COVID-19 related relief funds. Victim One stated those funds were subsequently utilized to cover shortages and missing funds within company accounts.
Victim One stated that during the week prior to Wren's confession, he directed Witness One to assist Wren with the company's bookkeeping and accounting records because required business documents were not being completed.
Victim One stated that when he reviewed company account balances in January of 2026, the company maintained between approximately $750,000 and $800,000 in available funds. Victim One stated that after Wren's admission and review of the accounts, the account balance was found to be less than $200, 000.
Victim One stated the company had also received approximately $250,000 from FEMA assistance, insurance proceeds, and COVID-19 related relief funds. Victim One stated those funds were subsequently utilized to cover shortages and missing funds within company accounts.
Victim One stated that during the week prior to Wren's confession, he directed Witness One to assist Wren with the company's bookkeeping and accounting records because required business documents were not being completed.
Victim One stated Wren appeared stressed, anxious, and reluctant to provide requested financial records. Witness One stated that while attempting to gain access to company financial records, Wren refused to provide full access and concealed bookkeeping records.
Witness One stated she repeatedly requested access to the records and advised Wren she needed the documents no later than September 7, 2026.
Witness One stated that on September 7, 2026, Wren was largely unavailable and continued refusing to provide complete access to the requested records. The following day, September 8, 2026, Wren contacted Victim One and confessed to stealing money from company accounts.
Victim One advised that the expenditures identified by Witness One were not authorized by him and were not legitimate business expenses, Victim One stated Wren was entrusted with managing the company finances and had access necessary to conduct the transactions.
Witness One stated she repeatedly requested access to the records and advised Wren she needed the documents no later than September 7, 2026.
Witness One stated that on September 7, 2026, Wren was largely unavailable and continued refusing to provide complete access to the requested records. The following day, September 8, 2026, Wren contacted Victim One and confessed to stealing money from company accounts.
Victim One advised that the expenditures identified by Witness One were not authorized by him and were not legitimate business expenses, Victim One stated Wren was entrusted with managing the company finances and had access necessary to conduct the transactions.
Law enforcement conducted a preliminary review of available bank statements and financial records provided by Victim One. During that review, numerous transactions were observed occurring over an extended period of time. The transactions included expenditures consistent with those identified by Witness One, including casino-related transactions, Whatnot purchases, and other expenditures that appeared unrelated to company business operations.
I made contact with Austin Wren regarding the allegations. Wren was advised of his Miranda rights and invoked his right to remain silent, Wren did not provide a statement to law enforcement.
Victim One stated that upon looking through bank statements he discovered Mr. Wren had created a business using the money from the company. Mr. Wren also invested in crypto currency.
The case was investigated by the Neosho Police Department.
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