She Lied!
By jsitko
@jsitko (1169)
United States
April 23, 2009 2:11pm CST
I could not believe what I was hearing on the news this morning! A local woman lied to family, friends and the whole community. She had put out collection jars in many of the local stores, had a local pizza house and the Lion's Club give fund raisers to collect money for her cancer treatments. Everyone was giving what they could to help support her and her medical bills, she had our hearts on a string and our daily prayers with her. But all fell through when the Lions Club was about to give her the couple of thousand dollars ( I believe it was $3000) they collected and wanted more information from her, they found out she never had cancer!
The DA said he is going to see that she get charged to the fullest extent. They got her bank records and saw that there was about $13,000 deposited into her account and the withdrawals were just about the same amount. She may get up to 20 years in prison and a huge fine. The community is astounded by her trickery and hurt by her lie.
How could anybody lie like that, saying they have cancer? Lying to the whole community, friends and family??
6 people like this
21 responses
@reichiru (748)
• Canada
24 Apr 09
My mother actually has cancer, and is currently in the hospital because she can't live without an oxygen tube anymore, so hearing something like that really makes me sick. I mean, I know everyone is scrambling around to make whatever money they can, but for someone to stoop so low as to lying to her entire community really is going too far. Sure, money is important, but it isn't the most important thing in life. I mean, she even lied to her family about it. If I had been a family member of that woman, I would have been totally devastated. You're supposed to trust your family the most, and yet someone would lie to their own family like that? She totally got what she deserved.
1 person likes this
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hi Reichiru, First of all I am deeply sorry to hear about your Mom. Our prayers are with you and so are our hearts.
I agree with you totally! I am not too sure what I would do if one of my family members did this to us. I may disown them, hard to say. It is wrong in all eyes especially God's and I am a firm believer in the saying."What goes around comes around!" and she is getting just a small taste of what is to come.
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Jsitko-
Do you have a link to the full news story? It's really sad when such things occur, because there are people in need. However, I think the question about her possibly being mentally ill may very well need to be investigated. I'm not saying it's right, but it could perhaps explain why she did what she did.
I hope though that this won't stop your community from reaching out to help people. I know sometimes bad things like this can leave a bad taste in people's mouths, but we shouldn't stop helping just because of one person.
Namaste-Anora
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
My apologies Anora_Eldorath and other mylotters! Here is the link to the news story from my local news website: http://wfmz.com/view/?id=810654 . She and the authorities are not claiming that she is mentally ill. I am happy for that, now she gets the full extent of the law. This may not stop us from helping people, but we will just have to be more cautious about who we help and why. It will be hard to take one's word for much anymore. Many of the local stores may not use donation jars anymore unless maybe if the charity goes through the township first. hanks for your response and hope you have a good day.
1 person likes this
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
26 Apr 09
Hey Anora, I am going to keep a close eye on this and I am hoping to even get into the court room. She didn't get the full amount she was looking for, but she did make out quite a bit. I am hoping that the DA gets his wishes and she gets 20 years in jail. Thanks again for posting here and enjoy your day!
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
25 Apr 09
Thanks for posting the story. I'm shocked even more having read that she stated she had 90K she needed. Thank goodness she didn't get that amount! Her bail seems really low though, but I guess it's all they could do for her crime. I hope she's punished to the full extent as well. There are families out there in true need who have cancer, and I think about those children with cancer who need that money.
Namaste-Anora
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
24 Apr 09
I think she deserves a punishment because her actions undermines peoples trust. Its a pity that people try to take advantage of other people's trust. We should help our neighbours but those people who are in real need not those who are abusers.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hey Ronaldinu, I a one of those that always puts my change in those donation jars on the counter and I like to go to the local fund raisers too. It is a small community so when one of us is need we show up and do our part. To be fooled by one of our own is just unspeakable! Hopefully we will not let her get to us and lose our faith in the people. Thanks so much for your response and have a great day!
@fran429 (502)
• United States
6 May 09
OMG! Not only did she LIE but she STOLE from the community. Please keep us updated with what happens to her. The lie she did was horrible too... to think of all the people in the world suffering while trying to survive with cancer and here she is scheming to get money out of your pockets...
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
8 May 09
Hi Fran, I know! I could not believe that she was scheming all those people either. It is a true crime in so many ways. We are still waiting to hear what is going to happen to her, but I sure hope she gets the punishment she deserves! Thanks for your response.
1 person likes this
@jayrene (2708)
• Philippines
24 Apr 09
this is really shocking, i hope she goes to jail... there are many people like this who are out to scam other people, they dont have conscience, they should be punished.
her tactics are a bit different though as she was appealing on people's pity and their kindness to help her. golly, she should be ashamed of her herself, im just glad that she got discovered, her tricks and lies put out in the open. people needs to be discerning sometimes when giving out help. well if in the future she gets cancer, she brought it upon herself...
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hi Jayrene, She will be going to jail if the DA has anything to do about it. He swears he is going to try to get her punished to the fullest extent of the law. This means a hefty fine and 20 years in jail. I hope she is ashamed but she just does not look that way on TV. You always have to pay for your actions in one form or another and like you said, if in the future......
Thanks for your input in this discussion and I hope to see you around myLot, have a great day.
@yetigirl (76)
• Spain
14 Jun 09
that's to be areal pirate, doing thing like that!!! I'm asking for some donations to help our family to survive (it's hard when all family members have been unemployed for more that 7 months, and have no help from noone) , but when things get better we'll give the money back. It's sad to see how people cheat community for their own benefit. If I was there, I would condemn her to live really with no money, no food, no medicines (in case she would need then) and no home to go back. Then she'll learn...hopefully. :(
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
24 Apr 09
unfortunately, this is not the first time i have heard something like this. i seem to remember someone pulling this stunt around my neck of the woods. why do these people think that they can get away with stuff like this? i mean really, do they think they are above the law? sheesh!
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hi Cher, Thanks for your response. I guess this has been happening in other areas, it is just a shame and ruins it for everyone involved. I am glad she got caught but it was not soon enough, she already received funds from the jars and the pizza shop. Hoping she will have a large fine and have to donate money to the cancer fund to make up what she "stole".
Hope you have a great day!
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
24 Apr 09
This isn't a new crime. I saw it in the news just a couple of years ago...a women claiming to have cancer and collecting. Actually a woman locally here pulled a similar stunt but she changed her story depending on who she was preying on. People go to extremes when they are desperate. I would say that the woman who pulled this was either extremely poor or perhaps addicted to something?
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
24 Apr 09
When things like that happen, it's sad. Lying to a whole community who reaches out to help someone in need, I wonder how she feels now. Does she feel remorse or just anger because she was caught? I wonder if she needed the money or just wanted it.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hey Cowgirl, According to the news, she used the money for leisure. She did not look remorseful on the TV while she walked to her car as she was leaving the DA's office. She had her head bowed down and a serious face but I did not see sadness or remorse. She was also alone which says something about the lack of support from friends and family. I can not believe she did this to her own family!! She will have 20 years to think about what she did. Thanks for your input here, have a great day!
@vivianchen (2646)
• China
24 Apr 09
Hi Jsitko,
Relax! There are lots of people out there are kindness and willing to help people, but also there are some people who cheat and lie to people just for their own good. I am not sure if you know 5.12 Earth Quake in China, many people and students die, and people from all over the world have given us warm hand. They send money, they send medicine, they send goods, they do whatever they can do to help. But there also some people use the name of whip-round, get the money from kind people and put it in their own pocket. I know you feeling, you just hate those bad peoples, that's why people are hard to trust other people nowadays. But we should alway believe the right will alway beat the wrong!
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hi Vivianchen, Yes! There are many nice and caring people out there that are willing to help the fallen. I love to help those who need it when I can, it gives a great inner feeling and peace when I do. Maybe that is why it hurts so much when people take advantage for themselves. You are right! We must always believe that the right will beat the wrong! Thanks for sharing and have a great day!
@charlenmendoza (922)
• Philippines
24 Apr 09
It hurt when someone lied to you and it hurts more when money is involved and to make you more angry is when you don't personally know the person. That is why i dont give out money to people i really dont know. i gave out money to proper forum.
Here in the philippines, i give donations to those trusted agency like gawad kalinga, bantay bata and world vision.
newayz, maybe she have her own reason and she is also the only one who can understand why she do that. Everytime that somebody fooled me, i always say to myself, the lord is watching her/him.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hi Charlenmendoza, It does hurt everyone involved, friend family and the community who came to her aid. It is good to support and donate to trusted funds and not to individuals but many people need the extra help and she may just have ruined that for those in need.
I agree with you that the Lord is watching and I also believe"What goes around comes around". Thanks so much for your response and have a great day!
@Carolysom (62)
• Canada
24 Apr 09
Stories like this really bother me. It's people like that that make it hard for the people that really could use the support. After that now, your community will be less likely to come out and support people because they will always have this in the back of their minds.
There was a story similar to that here in my home town a number of years ago. This woman's family (her parents and/or siblings) had been in the spotlight/getting a lot of attention for whatever reason. Then all of a sudden, she was really sick. They didn't know what was wrong with her and just couldn't figure it out. She was fine after a while. A lot of people around here say that she just did it to get attention.
This all reminds me of the story of the boy who cried wolf.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hi Carolysom, Things like this really bother me too. It has hurt the community and many may never add money to donation jars or go to the local restaurant to donate to other's cause. There are some locations that will no longer put out the donation jars either. This is going to hurt those that may come in to the need for such donations in the future. She got noticed alright and even had her 3 seconds of fame. This was the case of the girl who cried wolf! Got caught and going to jail!
Thanks for your response, have a nice day!
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hi Meandmy3, Yes, it is sad that these people do this. I am from Pennsylvania and I have heard of others doing this, but when it hits your own community, it hits your heart strings. This community is not very large and many knew her, felt bad for her and did what they could to raise money to pay her bills for her.
Not only did she not have cancer, but she did not pay any bills with the money, it was for her leisure! Glad she got caught! Thanks for responding and have a nice day!
@princesscheech (61)
• Canada
24 Apr 09
I think that is just disgusting! How could someone do something so low? I hope she gets 20+ in jail, there are people out there with cancer that try to get money raised for them and dont end up making very much to pay for all the bills. I hope when she is rotting in jail she thinks long and hard about all the people out there that she lied to and hurt. I cant believe that someone could actually do something like that! It disgusts me to see that we have people in this world like that!
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hi Princesscheech, I could not agree more! It is disgusting and about as low as you could go. She and people like her are ruining it for those truly in need and I hope the good people will see that and not give up hope. She did not look that sorry when she was on the news but I am sure she will be when she wakes up in her jail cell everyday. She has been released on a $50,000 bail, not quite sure how she paid for that??? Hopefully she will not be free for too long and will not run and hide.
Thanks for your response and have a great day!
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
23 Apr 09
Hi Lilybug, It is sad that they way the economy is and what it makes some do. But the horrifying thing about what this person did was she used the money for pleasure. According to the DA and the news, she did not use this money to pay her bills or feed her family. She used this money for her own pleasure. I really hope she gets what she deserves from all concerned. Thanks for your response and have a great day.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hi Frygirl, I can not understand why the family did know anything was going on either. They thought she had cancer too but maybe love is blind. If I had a family member with cancer I think I would have seen signs (or not see the signs) of chemotherapy and other effects of cancer or at least wanted to go to the doctors with her, Something! It is not something you want to do alone or go through alone. I can't understand that! Thanks so much for your response. Have a great day!
@strawberrychocodahi (4818)
• Philippines
23 Apr 09
Is she mentally ill or disturbed? just a question because i have heard the same thing in Australia. Sad to say he was a Pastor who had cancer and to make the story short, he lied to his wife, his family, the congregation and everyone got baffled why he had done that.
The most difficult part here is that she hurt her family the most. I just wonder how she pretended because the guy whom i was referring to got his family fooled because he has been looking sick, vomiting, has hair falling in patches so they really though he was cancer stricken. I wonder if that lady has also showing off signs of a cancer patient that's why she fooled a lot of community and charity institutions.
Worst thing is that she will be jailed for what she has done. I hope she asks forgiveness to all the people she hurt and most of all to God.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
23 Apr 09
Hi Strawberychocodahi, She does not appear to be sick in any way, not even mentally. She looked very healthy on the news, with beautiful dark blonde hair. I just do not know how she fooled everyone or why all believed her when she did not look sickly at all. I know that I would not go to the doctors with out a family member or close friend if I had cancer. I do not know why family and friends did not catch on to her lie before the Lion's Club did. Cancer it a tragic thing to happen and if a friend or family member lied to me saying the had cancer and then found out they did not, I am not too sure if I would be too eager to be forgiving. Hopefully she will ask for the Lord's forgiveness. Thanks for responding and if you have any more thought, please join in the discussion again. Thanks and have a great day!
@duskiss (98)
• China
23 Apr 09
I have seen such repot before, such scam is unbearable, if there is someone really has cancer and need help people would be too suspicious and alert to give help, she did not only a crime on the community but also who ever hear about her sin, on those who should be kind and willing to offer, and those really need help.
@cassyisme (107)
• Canada
24 Apr 09
oh thats absolutely insane !
I dont like it when people lie about serious things =\
I mean, if she really needed money, she couldve joined mylot ;)
kiddding.
but I think thats just crazy. why would you do that, knowing youd get caught, just to get money?
I know people that have lied about things like that before, its awful.
they make up for the lack of proof because its "getting better" even though theres no treatment =S
but .. oh well, things happen.
I imagine there will be a huge fine, hahah. thats like stealing.
well, good luck sorting that out, I feel bad for the family .. =(
if you know them, send em muh love.
if thats not awkward =P
aha, thanks.
peace !
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Hi Cassyisme, It is insane, I just hope she doesn't plead that way to the courts. As of now the DA is planning on charging her to the fullest extent of the law, which means a large fin and up to 20 years in jail. She didn't even need the money to pay bills, she used it for leisure. Thanks for commenting and have a great day.
@LevysLuv (238)
• United States
23 Apr 09
That is horrible! I hope the money that was raised can be given to someone who really has cancer or a charity that supports cancer research. This woman must have some kind of mental illness. I'd have to think a perfectly healthy person would cook up this sceme.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
23 Apr 09
Hi LevvysLuv, From what I understand, much of the money that she received, she has spent. The news also stated that most of it went to pleasure not for bills at all. The only money she did not get was the money that the Lion's Club had collected. I am sure they will find a charity to give that too, an honest one. I am sure when she goes to jail the other inmates are not going to like the fact that she said she had cancer when she didn't. I just hope that her selfishness has not stopped the people from donating to a good,worthy and honest cause. I know I will second guess myself before putting money in a donation jar.Thanks so much for your response!
