Assistant Branch Manager Collapses & Dies During Robbery
Mountain America CU employees are deeply saddened by the unexpected and tragic death of Jacob O’Haver.
During a credit union robbery last week, an assistant branch manager for the $9.8 billion Mountain America Credit Union collapsed and later died.
Jacob O’Haver, a husband and father of four children, was just 33 years old.
“Mountain America Credit Union and its employees are deeply saddened by the unexpected and tragic death of our beloved employee, Jacob O’Haver,” MACU President/CEO Sterling Nielsen said. “We will greatly miss Jacob and his wonderful contributions to the Ammon branch and the Mountain America family. We extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family and friends for their loss.”
On July 2 at about 5 p.m., Matthew J. Stavert walked into the MACU branch in Ammon, Idaho, and demanded money from a teller. An employee tripped the alarm that alerted police. No weapons were brandished during the robbery, according to Bonneville County Sheriff investigators.
As Stavert was leaving the branch, O’Haver collapsed, police said.
When county sheriff deputies and firefighters arrived at the branch, they administered CPR on O’Haver. He was rushed to a hospital where he later died, the Bonneville County Sheriff said.
Police investigators working with MACU’s staff quickly retrieved a picture and description of Stavert and his car. That enabled police to track the suspect and arrest him as he was exiting a house in Idaho Falls, about six miles west of the Ammon branch.
The 31-year-old suspect was booked on robbery and burglary charges and is being held at Bonneville County Jail.
The robbery is under investigation.
“Any charges relating to the death of the employee are being considered by the prosecutor’s office, but they are waiting for autopsy results as well,” a spokesperson for the Bonneville County Sheriff said.
According to a GoFundMe page posted by his sister, O’Haver died from cardiac arrest. More than $17,000 has been raised to pay for funeral expenses and support the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggested donations be made to Sydney, O’Haver’s wife of 13 years, via Venmo to SydneyOhaver@mrs_o, according to O’Haver’s obituary.
A visitation was held on Thursday at the Wood Funeral Home and Crematory in Idaho Falls. Additional services will be held in Arizona where O’Haver was born.