BELLINGHAM - A 43-year-old woman was arrested late Monday, Sept. 26, on suspicion of embezzling at least $32,000 from a photography studio in north Bellingham.

Gjienna H. Conway-Disch is accused of stealing the money from Donette Studio, 4165 Hannegan Road, during the eight months she worked there as an in-house bookkeeper, said Bellingham police Sgt. Jason Monson.

Another employee reported the theft to police Friday after noticing a discrepancy between the studio's financial records and its bank accounts, as well as irregularities in bills and "just weird signs," said Donnie Rubenack, the studio's owner.

Rubenack said that as he continued to review the financial records, he discovered the loss could total much more, possibly exceeding $75,000.

"Every rock we turn over, we're finding problems," he said.

After establishing probable cause to make an arrest, officers went to Conway-Disch's home, where she allegedly admitted to the embezzlement, Monson said. She had worked as a bookkeeper at a chiropractor's office in Arizona before moving to Bellingham, but Rubenack said at this point he hasn't heard that she was suspected of other embezzlements.

Conway-Disch was booked into Whatcom County Jail on investigation of first-degree theft.

Fourteen people work at Donette Studio, a family-owned business that began in Bellingham in 1965. The studio, which specializes in wedding photography and portraits, has insurance that may restore some of the loss.