Authorities are looking for a Parkville, Mo., woman charged with tax evasion.

Letti Strait, 48, allegedly filed false tax returns claiming her children as dependents even though Ms. Strait had lost custody of the children following her former husband’s slaying in 2007.

“We are asking for the public’s aid in apprehending Letti Strait, also known as Letti Kay Rivera-Strait,” Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said. “She may be homeless and may have recently been in the Kansas City area or Republic County, Kan.”

Ms. Strait is a white female and is known to drive a brown 2003 Chevrolet minivan with Missouri license number 5CA 81L.

Mr. Zahnd’s office charged Ms. Strait with four felonies on Oct. 20: attempting to avoid state income tax; filing a false state income tax return; failing to pay state income tax; and stealing by deceit. If convicted of all charges, she faces up to 22 years in prison. Her bond was set at $3,000.

According to court documents, Ms. Strait claimed four children as dependents on her 2008 state and federal tax returns. However, the children she claimed were placed in the custody of the Missouri Children’s Division on September 4, 2007, and have not lived with or had any overnight visitation with her since then.

Ms. Strait’s former husband, Charles Cammisano, was found dead in his Riverside home on Sept. 1, 2007. The victim had been shot several times. Police named Ms. Strait and another man as persons of interest in Mr. Cammisano’s death. She was later taken into custody after a standoff with police but was released.

Mr. Zahnd said no charges have been filed related to Mr. Cammisano’s death.

“The case remains under active investigation,” Mr. Zahnd said.

Riverside Police Chief Greg Mills asked anyone who knows anything about Mr. Cammisano’s slaying to call the Riverside Police Department at (816) 741-1501 or the TIPS hot line at (816) 474-TIPS. A reward of $6,050 cash has been established for anyone whose tip leads to an arrest. TIPS callers may remain anonymous.