One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Four People Arrested For Faking Infant Deaths, Trying to Collect Money for Funerals
Four individuals have been arrested after toying with the emotions of passers-by by soliciting money under the guise of paying for the funeral of an infant. KTLA reports that Heather Nichols, 21; Catherine Mendez, 22; Chasity Doll, 20; and Jamari Carter, 26, allegedly held a sign on street corners with a picture of a baby and the dates "January 20, 2011 - June 4, 2011" written underneath.
The suspects were taken into custody yesterday in Fontana after police responded to a call reporting a woman soliciting money, says the LA Times. It later came out that the four were not connected to any babies that had passed away.
The operation, although it seems benign, was actually no small potatoes. The four reportedly netted $700 - $1200 a day, and ran the scam all across the Southwest, from Modesto to Arizona.