Mother faked child's cancer to raise money, authorities claim

URBANA, Ohio -- Police say a woman tried to trick her daughter and community into thinking the girl had cancer so she could raise money, even going so far as to shave the 7-year-old's head, give her sleeping pills and put her in counseling to prepare to die.

No charges had been filed against Teresa Milbrandt, 35, as of Wednesday. Her daughter, Hannah, has been taken from her and placed in the custody of relatives.

Reese said Milbrandt admitted this week to county officials that the cancer was a hoax. He said police have collected coffee cans placed at businesses to seek donations that would supposedly go toward treatment. Police also found fliers with photos of the girl inviting people to fund-raisers, and a color TV donated as a raffle prize.

Milbrandt's husband, Robert Milbrandt, 44, is also under investigation, but no charges have been filed against him, police said.

Robert Milbrandt said he and his daughter never knew the cancer was faked. He said he took his wife to a mental hospital Tuesday.

"I don't know how you can be married to someone for so long, them lie to you and you not know," he told the Urbana Daily Citizen.

The Milbrandts' telephone number is unpublished and The Associated Press could not locate them for comment Wednesday night.

Reese said Mrs. Milbrandt allegedly researched the effects of leukemia and gave her daughter sleeping pills and shaved her head to make it appear she was receiving chemotherapy.

He said Mrs. Milbrandt placed a bandage on the girl's back to cover a supposed "port" where chemotherapy was administered.

Reese said the girl does have some illnesses but police have determined none are life-threatening.

Police began investigating the child's illness about a week ago when employees at the girl's school noticed that her hair was cut or shaved, not falling out. They reported the situation to the county Department of Job and Family Services, and the agency contacted police.

Investigators have not been able to calculate the amount of money collected or the number of fund-raisers that have been held, but at least one church gave $2,200 and two agencies gave $500 each.

Reese said people in the community were shocked to hear the woman faked her child's illness.

"I've delivered death messages that people have taken easier than some of the people are taking this," said Reese. "They're just destroyed."