RENO, Nev. (AP) — The Latest on a Nevada woman accused of faking her son’s death to get money through fundraising website (all times local):
12:45 p.m.
A Nevada woman has appeared in court after being accused of faking her son’s death to solicit gifts from sympathizers and money through a fundraising website.
Victoria Morrison of Carson City made her initial appearance in state district court Wednesday on charges of obtaining money by false pretenses and child abuse or neglect. A judge set another hearing for next month.
Prosecutor Melanie Brantingham says Morrison’s 10-year-old son is alive and that his mother “falsely told him he was dying of leukemia.” She says that’s the basis for the child abuse charge.
The public defender’s office appointed to represent Morrison had no immediate comment. Her preliminary hearing is set for May 4.
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12:25 p.m.
Nevada authorities say a woman faces criminal charges after she faked that her 10-year-old son had leukemia and died, helping her raise more than $2,000.
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong says Victoria Morrison was arrested last Friday at a motel in Nevada’s capital city.
Authorities placed the son and Morrison’s three other children in the custody of state protective services officials.
Furlong says investigators determined that Morrison lied when she said her son had leukemia so she could solicit gifts including a helicopter ride for the boy.
He says she raised the money on a GoFundMe site and later falsely claimed the boy died.
Morrison, 31, is charged with obtaining money under false pretenses and child abuse or neglect.
It was not clear Wednesday whether Morrison had a lawyer.
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