A woman described as a “sociopath” admitted to deceiving a real cancer survivor into becoming her “chemo angel” after fabricating a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and acquiring £15,000 in donations, which she spent on herself and her family. Haleigh Knight of Las Vegas, Nevada, received $20,000 (£14,737) in donations via a fraudulent fundraising page over a ten-month period, targeting individuals such as a close friend and breast cancer survivor. Knight maintained a lavish lifestyle on TikTok while perpetuating the false illness, aiming to elicit sympathy and companionship from others.

Facing felony theft charges, Knight’s scheme involved manipulating a genuine cancer survivor into providing support during her supposed treatment. Suzanne Duroy, one of the deceived donors, shared her shock upon learning the truth, recalling her initial encounter with Knight in 2022 and subsequent involvement in caring for her. Expressing disbelief at the deception, she disclosed her emotional investment in Knight’s well-being, highlighting the betrayal felt by many who fell victim to the fraudster’s actions.

Prosecutors revealed that Knight’s incriminating text messages exposed her use of aliases and multiple online accounts to perpetrate the deceitful operation. In response to the incident, a GoFundMe spokesperson announced the banning of Knight from future fundraising endeavors, citing a strict policy against exploitation of donors’ goodwill. The platform reiterated its commitment to ensuring a secure and trustworthy environment for charitable giving, collaborating with law enforcement to address fraudulent activities.

Following a guilty plea, Knight agreed to repay $19,787.12 in restitution as part of a plea agreement, accompanied by probation and additional stipulations before the resolution of her criminal charges. An acknowledgment of misdemeanor theft was mandated before the completion of her probationary period, marking the culmination of legal proceedings against the perpetrator.