This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Logan police have arrested a mother for trying to collect money to pay for her sons' fabricated illnesses.
The 25-year-old mother advertised in flyers posted at local businesses that her 4-year-old and 6-year-old boys suffered from multiple medical conditions, including leukemia, and were undergoing bone-marrow transplants, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, according to a police news release. She even convinced family and close friends.
Police suspect the mother also subjected the boys to unnecessary medical treatment.
Concerned residents notified police after they saw the flyers. Logan police and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services determined that the majority of the claims were false, and arrested the mom Thursday under suspicion of child abuse and fraud.
A large fundraising effort, include a Zumbathon, had been scheduled Friday evening at the American West Heritage Center in Wellsville. All of the proceeds would have benefited the boys, according to an events calendar on The Cache Valley Daily website.
With the woman's allegedly false claims having come to light, organizers indicated that the Zumbathon will still go on, but they will donate the proceeds to the Child and Family Support Center and another local child in need of medical assistance, according to the release.