SHERMAN, TX -- Sherman Police made an arrest Friday in a felon theft case involving a local church.

Police Sgt. D.M. Hampton said the pastor at Key United Methodist Church filed a report on December 28th, after he noticed a significant amount of money missing.

"Some money was missing from a local church, and so a report was made and an investigation was launched into the whereabouts of that money, and where that money may or may not have gone," Hampton said.

The investigation led to a Church employee, 31-year-old Erica Marie Marquez.

Police say she stole more than $35,000 from the church. Police arrested her on January 4th for theft over $25,000 and under $100,000.

"At least somewhere to a three to four month period that this was going on," Hampton said.

Parents told News 12 the church announced on December 20th daycare services wouldn't continue in 2013. But they did not give a reason why.

News 12 made multiple calls to the church office and pastor. No one in the office returned the calls. The doors to the church are still locked. But a neighbor across the street said they did have church services this past Sunday. Aside from that, she said it's been dead during the day.

"No, not in the last several days, there hasn't been anybody over there," said neighbor Nancy Carey.

Carey has lived across the street for the past 20 years.

"When I was a kid, my grandpa used to be the janitor over at that church, so I've been in and out of that church for years," she said.

She was sorry to hear the daycare had closed.

"It's a big church, it's a good church and it's sad that people have to do things like that," she said.

The Sheriff's office said Marquez bonded out of jail on Saturday on a $10,500 bond.

The theft is a felony. If convicted, Marquez could face two to 10 years in prison.