Parents lied to daughter said she had cancer for website donation scam
source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1355049/Despicable-parents-told-daughter-cancer-webs...
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A husband and wife lied to their daughter telling her she had cancer in an attempt to scam money from friends and family, police have claimed.
Steven Kelly and wife Alicia are also alleged to have hidden the girl’s dead grandfather in a camper van at their home for a year, cashing in his retirement cheques and Social Security.
They are said to have forced the 15-year-old girl to take a high blood pressure pill they called 'chemo medicine' which they said would make her better.
After weeks of taking the pill the teen realised she was not sick, but according to authorities was too scared to tell anyone.
The couple, who have four other children – none of which have attended three out of the last five years of school – are even accused of setting up a website asking for donations from family members and friends.
They allegedly scammed churches and kind-hearted individuals through benefits and fundraisers by claiming they did not have enough money to treat their daughter’s disease.
The website chronicled their daughter’s supposed daily struggle with cancer through an online journal and to solicit further donations.
The family also participated in benefits such as The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and are thought to have raised several thousand dollars.
'To use their kids in this manner to obtain money…it’s just despicable what they are doing,' said Major John Murray of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office.
'There is not much difference than somebody going out and robbing somebody with a gun. What they did was instead of using a gun to rob people they used sympathy to rob people. It’s the same difference. One plays off of fear and one plays off of sympathy.'
Following a tip off to police the Kellys were called in for questioning in Greenwood County, South Carolina.
Deputies said the mother admitted that her daughter had never been diagnosed with cancer and never received any type of treatment for the disease.
Bizarrely, during the interview Kelly also told police if they searched her home they would find the body of her grandfather in a camper van.
Police who found the body said they believe the man was dead for more than a year.
The couple's other children are being cared for by relatives.
Police are appealing to anyone who came into contact with the family or donated via their website to contact them.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1355049/Despicable-parents-told-daughter...
Steven Kelly and wife Alicia are also alleged to have hidden the girl’s dead grandfather in a camper van at their home for a year, cashing in his retirement cheques and Social Security.
They are said to have forced the 15-year-old girl to take a high blood pressure pill they called 'chemo medicine' which they said would make her better.
After weeks of taking the pill the teen realised she was not sick, but according to authorities was too scared to tell anyone.
The couple, who have four other children – none of which have attended three out of the last five years of school – are even accused of setting up a website asking for donations from family members and friends.
They allegedly scammed churches and kind-hearted individuals through benefits and fundraisers by claiming they did not have enough money to treat their daughter’s disease.
The website chronicled their daughter’s supposed daily struggle with cancer through an online journal and to solicit further donations.
The family also participated in benefits such as The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and are thought to have raised several thousand dollars.
'To use their kids in this manner to obtain money…it’s just despicable what they are doing,' said Major John Murray of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office.
'There is not much difference than somebody going out and robbing somebody with a gun. What they did was instead of using a gun to rob people they used sympathy to rob people. It’s the same difference. One plays off of fear and one plays off of sympathy.'
Following a tip off to police the Kellys were called in for questioning in Greenwood County, South Carolina.
Deputies said the mother admitted that her daughter had never been diagnosed with cancer and never received any type of treatment for the disease.
Bizarrely, during the interview Kelly also told police if they searched her home they would find the body of her grandfather in a camper van.
Police who found the body said they believe the man was dead for more than a year.
The couple's other children are being cared for by relatives.
Police are appealing to anyone who came into contact with the family or donated via their website to contact them.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1355049/Despicable-parents-told-daughter...
