An Ohio woman, 41-year-old Pamela Reed, faces charges of theft by deception for allegedly fabricating her 7-year-old daughter’s cancer diagnosis.
The Noble County Sheriff’s Office reported that Reed had been deceiving the public into believing her daughter was battling cancer. This deception led to various local groups organizing fundraisers and donating money to support the family’s supposed medical expenses, with one organization alone donating $8,000 for cancer treatment.
The investigation, led by Sheriff Mackie, detectives, and Children Services, uncovered that the child was not suffering from cancer.
Reed, upon her arrest on January 8, confessed during interrogation to exaggerating and inventing medical conditions to obtain financial support from local organizations. She now faces a fourth-degree felony charge for theft by deception and is held on a $50,000 bond.
A Facebook page titled “Our ‘Rae’ of Sunshine – Team Addey Rae” was set up to solicit funds for the girl’s purported treatment. It included updates on her condition and photos of her in the hospital, with emotional posts detailing her supposed medical procedures and the family’s struggles.
A statement from the Noble County Sheriff’s Office, co-authored by Sheriff Jason Mackie and Misty Wells, Director of the Department of Job and Family Services, commended the collaborative efforts of the Children’s Services staff and law enforcement in acting swiftly for the children’s safety.
They emphasized that child abuse and neglect can present in various ways and urged professionals and community members to report any suspicions they might have. They praised the dedication and perseverance of the team involved in this case.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
