ONEIDA — The former Oneida city chamberlain accused of stealing more than $78,000 from the city has died, so all criminal charges against her are null and void, according to Oneida City Court officials.

Nancy Andrews died at age 78 on Tuesday, according to a death notice. There were no calling hours and private funeral services, with arrangements by Campbell-Dean Funeral Home in Oneida. Andrews had been scheduled to appear in City Court on Thursday, and court officials said the case has been dropped in lieu of her death.

Andrews had been charged in October with stealing $78,881.55 in tax, water and sewer payments that were made in cash between 2012 and 2020, according to the state Comptroller's Office.

Andrews allegedly concealed the thefts with a Ponzi-like scheme by applying one property owner’s payment to another. She spent the funds on, among other things, social outings with friends and pull-tab games at the American Legion in Oneida. The charges include grand larceny, corrupting the government, falsifying business records and tampering with public records, authorities stated.

Andrews served as the City of Oneida’s Chamberlain from 1998 until her term expired in 2021.