Nevada Mother Admits to Fake Cancer Scam
A mother from Nevada recently confessed to fabricating a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Apparently, her goal was for people to “feel guilty and love her and be there for her.” In the process, she accepted over $20,000 in donations, which she used for personal expenditures and her children’s needs.
Hayley Knight entered a guilty plea for grand theft in a Las Vegas courtroom on Monday. She acknowledged that from June 2023 to April 2024, she lied about having cancer, created a fraudulent fundraising page, and deceived many, including a longtime friend and a breast cancer survivor, out of thousands of dollars.
Prosecutors presented text messages where Knight admitted to setting up a GoFundMe account by posing as someone else to support her claims, ultimately using the collected funds to cover bills and help her children.
One of Knight’s victims, Sidney Fink, a high school classmate, noted that Knight expressed remorse and suggested that she felt like “two different people” and was unable to control her actions.
According to court documents, Knight explained that she faked her illness to elicit sympathy from Fink, her family, and her own family, hoping they would rally around her.
Suzanne Duroy, a breast cancer survivor and another victim, expressed shock upon learning that Knight never had cancer. Duroy, who met Knight in 2022 while working at a surgery center, had even donated to Knight’s GoFundMe. She had moved to Florida to care for her mother when she found out about Knight’s false diagnosis. As a fellow cancer survivor, Duroy became her “chemo angel,” sending nearly $1,000 in gift cards and gifts.
“For me, it’s not really about the money. I felt heartbroken for her,” Duroy shared.
Additionally, Rachel Riedel, another victim, described Knight as a “sociopath,” feeling angered that she exploited their community and families.
As part of her plea deal, Knight agreed to pay back $19,787.12 in restitution. If she fulfills her restitution and completes probation, she might have the chance to change her felony plea to a misdemeanor theft charge and receive credit for time served.
Knight’s sentencing is set for June 24th.
