Staff Report

WARSAW — Three people from Kosciusko County are facing charges after allegedly committing theft at a Warsaw hotel.

Chiquita Monique Lane, 49, 207 N. Neer Drive, Silver Lake, is charged with three counts of theft where the value of property is over $50,000, all level 5 felonies.

Eleseo Marqal Lane, 25, 403 N. Washington St., Warsaw, is charged with theft where the value of property is over $50,000, a level 5 felony.

Kimberly Laura-Lynn Northern, 25, 403 N. Washington St., Warsaw, is charged with theft where the value of property is between $750 and $50,000, a level 6 felony.

On March 28, 2024, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a theft report. The report was made by a co-owner of the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott.

According to court documents, the co-owner said Chiquita caused the Fairfield Inn to lose approximately $297,000 in damages. Chiquita formerly worked at the hotel as a general manager, placing her son, Eleseo; and daughter-in-law, Northern, on the payroll when they were not employed at Fairfield Inn.

Chiquita also allegedly permitted Eleseo and Northern to stay at the hotel without paying for a room, resulting in approximately $120,000 in lost profit for the room.

The officer received access to Paycor, a payroll service, and learned Eleseo was paid for employment at a total of $63,775.64. Paycor showed Eleseo was entered into its system from May 2022 through January 2024. Five current and former hotel employees all told police Eleseo never worked at the hotel.

Eleseo’s time entries were all entered manually by Chiquita.

Fairfield Inn’s former regional manager spoke with police about the theft on April 11, 2024. The individual said he knew of no family members of Chiquita’s working at the hotel, and that Chiquita did not receive approval from him to have Eleseo or Northern stay at the hotel without payment.

Per the hotel’s employee handbook, family members cannot work under the supervision of a family member. Furthermore, employees cannot reside in the hotel unless approved in writing by the ownership or vice-president of operations.

Upon further investigation, it was determined Eleseo and Northern stayed at the hotel without paying from Jan. 16, 2022, to April 30, 2023, occupying two guestrooms.

Chiquita was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Sept. 15, 2025.

Eleseo and Northern have both already been arrested and released on bond. They have initial hearings at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Kosciusko Superior Court Three.