Court date pushed back to September

It took years for the widow of former Humble Mayor Dr. Haden McKay to discover nearly $200,000 was missing from her bank account.

It will take that long or longer for Lillian McKay’s relatives to get the embezzlement case in front of a judge. A hearing set for June 28 has now been postponed to Sept. 20, said Humble City Secretary Sue Daniel, a friend who has followed the case.

Haden McKay was mayor of Humble for 24 years and Lillian McKay was known as the ‘First Lady of Humble.’ Dr. McKay died in 1996 and Mrs. McKay died in October of 2008 at the age of 91; the couple had no children.

The woman accused of stealing the money enjoyed a close relationship with McKay that spanned two decades.

Authorities filed felony charges against Mary Susan Jackson three years ago. Her husband, Floyd, is the mayor of Roman Forest, a 4,000-resident town just north of Humble in Montgomery County.

Rock Janda, McKay’s nephew, said the judge delayed the June 28 trial, which had previously been postponed several times, because eight others had been scheduled that day. He expressed frustration at the continual postponements and lack of a resolution.

“This is unbelievable,” Janda said. “I told my aunt I’d fight it, and make sure Susie was punished, so I’m doing it.”

Janda and Rick Overkamp, his nephew, uncovered the theft. Jackson worked at the McKay Clinic and stayed with the former Humble first lady through her illness. McKay granted Jackson access to her credit card and bank account, so she could pay for necessary household items.

Overkamp and Janda became suspicious when they noticed an excessive number of charges on McKay’s credit card statement. They accuse Jackson of siphoning the money to pay her own taxes, for her daughter’s wedding, for utility bills, and to make mortgage payments, among other expenses.

The Jacksons were unavailable for comment but Susan Jackson told KTRK-TV more than a year ago that “it was all a big misunderstanding” and insisted she would never steal from McKay. Jackson’s attorney said in the same KTRK interview that McKay had approved of all the purchases.

Janda said he is hopeful the latest court date will stick.

“This has just been delayed and delayed and delayed,” he said.