14 DAY TRIAL // A mother from Vernal, Utah is facing criminal charges over faking her daughter's terminal illness for a financial gain. 30-year-old Abreail Denise "Abby" Winkler has been charged with communication fraud.
The felony crime is punishable by a maximum five years in prison and a $5,000 (€3,750) fine, Deseret News has informed.
"She made up the story" seeking her ex-husband's attention "and then things got out of hand," police detective Shaun Smith, interviewing the woman, describes.
"During the course of my investigation, I spoke with numerous individuals who had donated monies under the pretense that (the child) had leukemia," he says.
Police believe that the woman has also lied to her daughter about her condition. Making up the story about her 4-year-old daughter earned Winkler at least $3,183 (€2,380) in donations.
The sum only takes into account money resulting from fundraising events and other gifts which have been formally recorded. There could still be donors unaware of the scam.
"Up until a couple days prior to us interviewing (the girl), she still at that point believed that she had cancer.
"At this point, she knows that she does not and appears to be coping with it well," Smith notes.
The custody of the little girl has been awarded to the suspect's ex-husband, Derick Winkler. He details that his daughter is feeling and looking better.
"She's loving life and getting into preschool. [...] And she doesn't have dark circles under her eyes anymore," he says.
He urges prosecutors to properly punish the crime and not lobby for "just a slap on the wrist."
"I just want the court system to run its course," he argues.