72-Year-Old Postal Employee Makes Shocking Confession to FOX 26

HOUSTON - While postal inspectors gathered evidence, 72-year-old Karen Samford sat in a folding chair, wondering what was to become of her 36-year career with the US Postal Service.

"People can have mental issues," Samford said. "It doesn’t make them crazy; it doesn’t make them insane. It makes them stupid."

For the past 10 years, Samford has been stealing bulk mail, mail that was going to be destroyed anyway, from the Pearland Post Office.

She said she stole enough mail each year to fill up a big box truck.

It all came to light about a week ago when her supervisor noticed mail sitting in her office.

"Well, they asked me, ‘Besides in the office, do you have it anywhere else’?" she said. "Well, they asked me so I told them."

She told her boss they could find undelivered bulk mail in storage spaces she rented and at her Friendwood home.

"This is a hording problem," she said. "I see things in some little piece of paper that maybe I want to read it or save it, and that's what happens."

Last week, she was suspended from the post office without pay.

She said she never took mail that was of any value.

Postal inspectors are expected to be back at her house, searching for more stolen mail.

Right now, the great grand mother doesn't know if she will face criminal charges.

"I would like a second chance," Samford said. "I would like to go back to work. I am ashamed of myself, but I know there is more to me than that."

A representative, with the US Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, would only say there was an ongoing investigation related to Samford and mail theft.