Woman Fakes Cancer to Get Free Wedding
Nothing warms the cockles of people’s hearts like helping those in need. When someone is bullied or suffering from a terminal illness, the spirit of compassion and kindness takes over: people lend a hand and donate their money and time.
So when it was revealed that a 40-year-old New Jersey woman by the name of Lori Stilley faked bladder cancer for money and sympathy, people became outraged.
Stilley duped her friends and family when she ‘revealed’ her stage III bladder cancer on February 2011. She posted about her cancer on Facebook, began her own website, and wrote an e-book chronicling her struggle. The e-book was entitled I’mpossible: How A Facebook Group Loved Me Through Bladder Cancer, and sold for $14.99 a copy.
Friends and family raised money for the mother of two, who said she did not have medical insurance to cover your ever increasing bill. Stilley also revealed that she wanted to marry her boyfriend before she passed away, so $10,000 was raised to pay for her dream wedding.
However, Stilley’s sister Lori DiGiovanni became suspicious after the alleged cancer patient quickly changed her story. One month before announcing her entry into a hospice, Stilley began telling friends that she was miraculously feeling better.
DiGiovanni turned her sister in. She believes that Stilley needs mental help. Stilley has been charged with theft by deception, but maintains her innocence.
“For this defendant to represent that she was dying from this terrible disease for the sake of personal gain and sympathy goes way beyond simply being a criminal offense,” said Robert Bernardi, a Burlington county prosecutor. ”It was extremely cruel to those who were concerned and worked hard to lend assistance.”
She was arrested on Wednesday, but was released on bail of $25,000.
