Woman accused in cancer scam found dead
The Associated Press
A 24-year-old woman who allegedly ran a cancer donation scam that netted her thousands of dollars and gifts from celebrities has been found dead of an apparent suicide.
Officials say Melissa Ann Rice, of Ammon, Idaho, apparently committed suicide days after a charge of grand theft by fraud was filed against her. Her body was found Wednesday in her car.
Bonneville County Sgt. Doug Metcalf says Rice fooled national cancer foundations into donating thousands of dollars and gifts to her by pretending to be a 15-year-old boy with brain cancer named Jonathan Jay White.
Deputies continue to investigate the case to return donations that included a skateboard autographed by Tony Hawk and a guitar autographed by Kenny Chesney.
The Associated Press
A 24-year-old woman who allegedly ran a cancer donation scam that netted her thousands of dollars and gifts from celebrities has been found dead of an apparent suicide.
Officials say Melissa Ann Rice, of Ammon, Idaho, apparently committed suicide days after a charge of grand theft by fraud was filed against her. Her body was found Wednesday in her car.
Bonneville County Sgt. Doug Metcalf says Rice fooled national cancer foundations into donating thousands of dollars and gifts to her by pretending to be a 15-year-old boy with brain cancer named Jonathan Jay White.
Deputies continue to investigate the case to return donations that included a skateboard autographed by Tony Hawk and a guitar autographed by Kenny Chesney.
Woman Found Dead After Being Investigated For Fraud
A woman is found dead after being investigated in a possible fraud scheme involving several national charities.
The Bonneville County Sheriff's office says Melissa Ann Rice of Ammon was found about 5 miles in Henry's Canyon Wednesday afternoon. Her death is still being investigated.
In a press release from the Bonneville County Sheriff's office, Rice may have made up a story about a 15-year-old boy named Jonathan Jay White as having cancer. She told charity organization that the boy had a cancer called Anaplastic Astrocytoma since April 2008.
But last week, investigators say she told the charity organization, Livestrong, she made up the story. Livestrong is part of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. They told police he was scheduled to have surgery last week, but admitted there was no surgery when they offered to send a person for support during the operation.
The Sheriff's Office served search warrants on the Rice's residence and recovered numerous items that had been donated to Jonathan. The prosecutor's office filed fraud charges on Wednesday.
A woman is found dead after being investigated in a possible fraud scheme involving several national charities.
The Bonneville County Sheriff's office says Melissa Ann Rice of Ammon was found about 5 miles in Henry's Canyon Wednesday afternoon. Her death is still being investigated.
In a press release from the Bonneville County Sheriff's office, Rice may have made up a story about a 15-year-old boy named Jonathan Jay White as having cancer. She told charity organization that the boy had a cancer called Anaplastic Astrocytoma since April 2008.
But last week, investigators say she told the charity organization, Livestrong, she made up the story. Livestrong is part of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. They told police he was scheduled to have surgery last week, but admitted there was no surgery when they offered to send a person for support during the operation.
The Sheriff's Office served search warrants on the Rice's residence and recovered numerous items that had been donated to Jonathan. The prosecutor's office filed fraud charges on Wednesday.
