Student Fakes Cancer (odd news)

ThetaGrrl · #1 10-23-2003, 02:46 PM

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/sto...29.htm&sc=1110

Ball State Student Fakes Cancer

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - A Ball State University student shaved her head and pretended to be deaf to convince people she had cancer and get them to give her money, prosecutors said.

Brookelyn Walters, 24, of Culver, is charged with forgery and theft and could get up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Her lawyer, Jay T. Hirschauer, said Walters has repaid the money and is cooperating with authorities.

Prosecutors allege Walters faked having cancer since 2000, forging letters from doctors and starting a Web site to raise donations to pay for treatment she didn't actually need.

It's unclear how much money Walters received. The two theft charges refer to $676 for services of an interpreter the university provided after Walters convinced officials she was deaf and $1,000 donated by Kappa Delta sorority and Delta Chi fraternity.

University officials grew suspicious after problems arose stemming from Walters' request for the interpreter, said Richard Harris, director of Ball State's disability services.

Walters left school in May when university police began investigating. She had completed classes toward a special education major and hopes to work with deaf children, Hirschauer said.

AXJules · #2 10-23-2003, 02:49 PM

GHEY.

People like that are the reason no one wants to help anyone anymore.

Hootie · #3 10-23-2003, 03:16 PM

DAYUM! Talk about being desperate! How cruel!

Reminds me of that family that did the same thing to their 11 year old daughter!

OrigamiTulip · #4 10-23-2003, 03:19 PM

Ugh. Its really sad that someone could take advantage of people like that.

adpialumcsuc · #5 10-23-2003, 03:20 PM

I hate it when people prey on the generosity of other

ThetaPrincess24 · #6 10-23-2003, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hootie
DAYUM! Talk about being desperate! How cruel!

Reminds me of that family that did the same thing to their 11 year old daughter!

I remember hearing that on the news. Here not too long ago, a couple parents bought like 100,000 dollars worth of life insurance policies for their kids, collectively got together and set their house on fire, thus killing their children in an attempt to collect on insurance. I hope those parents burn in hell.

A side note.........people also do other dumbass things to get attention. This girl my sister graduated with in high school started a rumor ABOUT HERSELF that she was HIV positive in an attempt to make people feel sorry for her. When people started calling her mother to give their condolences, the girl was found out-----this girl was psycho anyway and was known for attempting suicide to get out of trouble and to make people feel sorry for her.

People are insane.

CatStarESP4 · #7 10-23-2003, 03:38 PM

It amazes me how some people can take advantage of others! It is sad!

Hootie · #8 10-23-2003, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThetaPrincess24
I remember hearing that on the news. Here not too long ago, a couple parents bought like 100,000 dollars worth of life insurance policies for their kids, collectively got together and set their house on fire, thus killing their children in an attempt to collect on insurance. I hope those parents burn in hell.

A side note.........people also do other dumbass things to get attention. This girl my sister graduated with in high school started a rumor ABOUT HERSELF that she was HIV positive in an attempt to make people feel sorry for her. When people started calling her mother to give their condolences, the girl was found out-----this girl was psycho anyway and was known for attempting suicide to get out of trouble and to make people feel sorry for her.

People are insane.

I think that's a different story! The one I was referring to was similar in that the mother shaved the daughter's head and actually TOLD her she was sick and going to die. The girl would go to school with a bald head and everyone felt so sorry for her. I forget how they found out that she didn't have cancer...maybe the little girl slipped and said something like, she didn't feel sick. I dunno....

But very sick none-the-less. What is up with parent's these days?!?!?!

The1calledTKE · #9 10-23-2003, 04:41 PM

Just plain sad. Stuff like this makes people less simpathetic to people that really are in trouble.

ZTAngel · #10 10-23-2003, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hootie
I think that's a different story! The one I was referring to was similar in that the mother shaved the daughter's head and actually TOLD her she was sick and going to die. The girl would go to school with a bald head and everyone felt so sorry for her. I forget how they found out that she didn't have cancer...maybe the little girl slipped and said something like, she didn't feel sick. I dunno....

But very sick none-the-less. What is up with parent's these days?!?!?!

Munchausen Syndrome. There's been a few articles in magazines lately about mothers who do that to their children. It's a sick way that mothers bring on attention to themselves so that people will think they're caring and nuturing.

Imthachamp · #11 10-23-2003, 04:49 PM

Eminem's mom has munchausen syndrome. At least that's what he said in his CLEANING OUT MY CLOSET song.

anyways...except for the fact she was caught, i thought it was a pretty smart idea. i guess she got greedy. sucks.

twhrider13 · #12 10-23-2003, 07:00 PM

If I recall correctly, Munchausen Syndrome is when a person fakes their own sickness, and Munchausen by Proxy is when a person fakes someone else's, usually his or her child's, sickness. Whatever it's called, though, it's sick...very, very sick.

Munchkin03 · #13 10-23-2003, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hootie
I forget how they found out that she didn't have cancer...maybe the little girl slipped and said something like, she didn't feel sick. I dunno....

Her hair was growing back like stubble, and it was obvious to them that the hair had been shaved.

People like this piss me off, and take the attention from the people who REALLY need help.

MereMere21 · #14 10-24-2003, 09:24 AM

yeah we had a sister who shortly after my class pledged, started telling everyone she had a brain tumor and was going to die

She forged doctor's notes, even phone calls! We think she did it to get out of EC meetings

Seriously though, she was insane.

DigitalAngel126 · #15 10-24-2003, 11:03 AM

I was down at Ball State this last weekend and hadn't heard about it. I'm goin back down there next weekend and I'm sure I'll hear the entire story. Friend of mine from Culver knows her, I think.