Mother in Giessen admits to obtaining 358,000 euros in donations through fake cancer diagnosis
A 42-year-old woman deceived the public about her son's cancer diagnosis and collected 358,000 euros in donations. Before the Giessen Regional Court, she made a comprehensive confession.
Confession before Regional Court: mother fabricated cancer diagnosis and obtained 358,000 euros
A 42-year-old woman confessed before the Giessen Regional Court to having invented a serious illness of her son in order to collect donations. According to DER SPIEGEL (Justice & Crime), she received a total of 358,000 euros in this manner.
"All acts are admitted without any restriction. This applies both to the facts and to the respective amounts cited," stated a declaration read out by her lawyer in court. The defendant herself would not initially respond to questions, her solicitor said. She regretted what had happened.
The Giessen prosecutor's office charges the woman with commercial fraud in 13 cases and forgery of documents in two cases. The offences allegedly took place between September 2021 and October 2024.
According to the indictment, the starting point was a dermatological examination of the child, who was then between five and eight years old, in which a finding was noted that proved to be unremarkable, however, and required no treatment. The woman then allegedly visited a clinic in Switzerland with her son, where doctors reached the same conclusion. Subsequently, she is said to have begun inventing a medical history.
Towards her family, the media and on internet platforms, she claimed that the child suffered from melanoma and urgently needed expensive treatment in the United States, which was not available in Germany. The donation appeals had "aroused compassion and great sympathy", the prosecutor said. Private individuals and charitable organisations donated tens of thousands of euros in some cases.
Particularly serious: the boy himself also believed he had cancer, as the prosecutor explained. The case came to light when the boy's paediatrician learned of the donation appeals through social media and contacted the youth welfare office. "That is when the web of lies was uncovered," said the prosecutor. The child was taken into care.
Despite the confession, the trial continues with the presentation of evidence. More than 20 witnesses are expected.