Texas Woman Involved in Deathbed Ruse

2009-04-14 21:10:36 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Dallas, News)

Wired PR News reports a Texas woman conned thousands out of people by claiming to be on her deathbed

The family of a Texas woman claiming to be on her deathbed is admitting it was just a scam for money.

Wired PR News – The family of a woman who pleaded with Texans for support while announcing she was on her deathbed has stated it was all a ploy for financial gain. As reported by CBS 11 News, Hope Ybarra’s family is now admitting she was not really sick when she made a public plea for financial support that garnered her $100,000.

Ybarra’s family and friends were reportedly unaware of the con until recently. Kristen Courtney, a fundraiser, who helped raise money for Ybarra’s cause is quoted in the report as stating, “I received a phone call from Hope’s father that said, ‘Whatever you do, don’t spend any of the funds. Freeze everything. There’s been a change in diagnosis, and we need to move in a different direction.”

Ybarra is said to suffer from Munchausen Syndrome, a condition that causes individuals to use illness to gain sympathy or attention from others. As noted by the AP, her family has offered apologies to donors, and are attempting to get the money repaid to them.