The step-mother of a California woman accused of pretending to have cancer is sharing her story for the first time.
Margaret Hudson says her family was fooled because they lived thousands of miles away when her step-daughter claimed she had cancer.
Meaghan Hudson, 25, of Chula Vista, will appear in court this month to face charges of theft by deception and grand theft. Investigators say she claimed to have cancer and accepted thousands of dollars in donations from strangers, family and friends for more than a year.
In the summer of 2013, Meaghan Hudson sent a text to her friends and family with the saddest of news. She said it was cancer, multiple myeloma, and chances for survival were low.
“She did call us with very detailed information about her supposed chemotherapy and experimental drug treatment,” Margaret Hudson wrote in a statement to NBC 7.
Friends from across the U.S. offered money, shaved their heads and got tattoos to support Meaghan.
Hudson's parents started an online fundraiser that garnered $5,000 in support.
After a few months Margaret said things started to not add up.
“She shaved her head because she claimed chemo was causing it to fall out, however I noticed there were no thinning or bald spots on her head,” Margaret said.
Margaret says when she confronted Meaghan, Meaghan denied the allegations.
Chula Vista Police however say Meaghan admitted she had made up her illness when they confronted her as part of their investigation.
“I just think it was a lie that got out of hand, “ Chula Vista Police Lieutenant Fritz Reber told NBC 7 earlier this week.
Meaghan will appear in court April 29 to face a judge.
Hudson's stepmother and father live in Texas. They have posted an apology on the fundraising page and promised to refund the donations.
Margaret told NBC 7 Thursday that her family has since repaid about half of the people who donated.
