ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A St. Louis County Circuit Court judge issued a criminal summons for a southern Illinois man who carried out the high-dollar theft of a Ritz-Carlton hotel guest last summer.

According to the Clayton Police Department’s probable cause statement, the theft took place on Aug. 11, 2024, in the Carondelet Plaza.

Police said the victim reported his hotel room had been ransacked and that $315,000 in cash had been stolen from his suitcase.

The victim told investigators a woman met him for dinner at the hotel before accompanying him to a casino. The victim gave this woman a key to his hotel room.

During dinner, the woman complained of being sick multiple times and left the table. She eventually returned and they went to the casino. Once at the casino, the victim said the woman left for the evening.

After the victim and woman left for the casino, police said Kristian J. Sanders (age not provided) entered the Ritz-Carlton and made his way to the victim’s room. Sanders used the key given to the woman to access the victim’s room.

Police reviewed hotel surveillance video and other information and determined Sanders concealed the stolen cash in a red backpack with white stars on it.

Sometime after the theft, the woman involved had purchased a 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer and used $13,000 in cash for the down payment, police said. Investigators also discovered that Sanders bought a Dodge Charger for $24,000 and paid in cash.

Police learned Sanders and the woman were in a relationship and shared a residence. Law enforcement went to the residence and located more than $95,000 in cash, along with receipts for clothing, electronics, jewelry, and other items. These purchases were all made after the theft.

According to police, the woman involved admitted giving the hotel room key to Sanders.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Sanders with stealing – $25,000 or more. Sanders has been ordered to appear in court on Feb. 25.

We could not find charges against the woman in online court records.