SEATTLE -- A Seattle businesswoman who wished to remain anonymous said she hired Vanessa Lemley as a bookkeeper after finding her on Craigslist.org only to have Lemely steal $9,000 from her.

Chris Ryden, a Lynnwood business owner, said Lemely also stole $7,000 from him.

“She just pulled checks form the bottom of the pile and started writing them out to either herself or their landlord,” Ryden said.

According to charging documents, 28-year-old Lemley has been charged with forgery in Snohomish County for stealing from Ryden.

“When I was doing the police report at Lynnwood, I had a text message from her apologizing and admitting what she did,” Ryden told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

The Seattle business woman said Lemley also apologized to her in e-mails, saying she doesn’t “trust herself”.

The King County prosecutor’s office said it will make a decision on whether to file charges in the Seattle case within the next few days.

Despite the huge loss, the Seattle businesswoman said she would hire through Craigslist.org again.

Lemley is expected to appear in Snohomish County Superior court Wednesday.