Final tallies of the missing-dollar amount from Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau indicate the former executive director embezzled more than half a million dollars from the center, police reported.

Debbie Dusenbery, 41, committed suicide nearly three weeks following revelations she embezzled money for extravagant trips and other personal expenses. A man riding a four-wheeler discovered Dusenbery’s red 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee on Jan. 31 in the area south of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Her body was located about 400 yards south of the car, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Local auditors from the firm Solga and Jakino PA, hired by city officials to conduct a complete audit, wrapped up their final financial report May 15.

The audit revealed that Dusenbery likely embezzled more than $547,000 from the center, Farmington Police Sgt. Robert Perez said.

More than $480,000 of the loss was traced back to Dusenbery in documented evidence. She also is suspected of spending more than $66,000 on meals, gas, local hotels and other expenses, which likely was never approved by the bureau’s board of directors, Perez said.

“This amount was from suspected fraudulent expenditures which exceeded or circumvented all (visitors bureau) guidelines and approval mechanisms,” he said.

Dusenbery, who resigned from her position Jan. 17, four days after the board placed her on suspension, did not dispute the embezzlement allegations.

In a Jan. 15 email to police, she said she had used more than $100,000 in embezzled funds to pay her credit card bills and an equity loan. She gave a $132,000 check to detectives in the days following the allegations to cover the stolen money, but those funds were not available in her account, Perez said.

Dusenbery refused to meet face-to-face with detectives before she left town.

Located inside her vehicle in the Arizona desert, however, was a folder addressed to Perez, which included handwritten letters to detectives, friends and one to her attorney, Victor Titus. She also left a will and other final instructions to friends.

Auditors discovered more than 60 purchases for airline tickets for Dusenbery and her friends to places like Costa Rica, Cabo San Lucas, the Dominican Republic, Belize, the Grand Cayman Islands and numerous places within the United States.

Police seized Dusenbery’s Jeep Grand Cherokee and a 2008 Cougar Recreational Vehicle, both purchased using the bureau’s funds. Also purchased but no longer in Dusenbery’s control at the time of her death was a $6,000 hot tub.

Dusenbery reportedly told several friends and co-workers that she was suffering from terminal cancer, and according to police, the reason she embezzled the money was to pay for the extreme costs of treatment.

“There was no evidence found through the examination of financial documents that any payments had been made for medical services related to cancer treatment,” Perez said.

One of the concerns nagging city officials and police at the onset of the investigation was whether any funds were taken from the Freedom Days celebration and the Totah Festival, two organizations in which Dusenbery held a major role.

“Although there was evidence she probably mismanaged those accounts, no significant amount of loss was linked to Dusenbery’s activities,” Perez said.

The investigation revealed that Dusenbery likely was “stealing from Peter to pay Paul” and that “she was manipulating accounts in order to hide her activities that were primarily focused on the Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau,” he said.

The final cost of the investigation to the visitor’s bureau was $50,000, City Manager Rob Mayes said in an email.

Although the bureau is considered an independent nonprofit organization, most of its $700,000 budget comes from the city through money garnered in a 5 percent tax on hotel rooms.

The case report was sent to the District Attorney’s Office for review, and at the request of Attorney General Gary King, the case was sent for review by agents in King’s office.

“As of this date there is no one else being investigated for any involvement, unless further guidance is received from the legal authorities reviewing the case,” Perez said.

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