N.J. Woman Charged With Faking 9-Year-Old Son's Cancer, Collecting Money
PENNSAUKEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A New Jersey mother was charged this week with lying to multiple people and saying her son had cancer – including the 9-year-old boy himself.
Susan Stillwaggon, 35, was arrested earlier this week, CBS Philly reported Thursday. She allegedly told her friends and family that her son was sick with cancer, and then accepted fundraising from family and friends.
"The soccer team, the mothers' were doing cupcake sales, they were selling bracelets, they were selling necklaces, they had a bingo night that they raised money," said Pennsauken, N.J., police Lt. Michael Probasco told KYW-TV, Philadelphia's Jenn Bernstein Thursday.
The Pennsauken mother of four told the community through word of mouth and her Facebook page that her elementary school age son had a type of lymphoma, according to police.
"It's a lie," Probasco said.
Officials were alerted when they received an anonymous tip from another police department.
Shortly thereafter, police also received a call from the child's elementary school, after school officials became suspicious of the claims, CBS Philly reported.
Investigators do not believe even Stillwaggon's husband knew about the scheme.
Stillwaggon's mother said her daughter is now getting help at a psychiatric ward.
"I will just tell you that my daughter is sick, something snapped in her head, don't know what, that's why she is where she is so we can find out what's wrong," she said.
Stillwaggon was charged Thursday with third-degree theft by deception, third-degree forgery, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and second-degree using a juvenile to commit a criminal offense, CBS Philly reported.
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