Cancer Patient Arrested for Fake Story
By: Laura Kellerman/KCBD
Updated: January 15, 2009
Authorities in Lubbock arrested a woman, a cancer patient, who claimed to have been robbed.Police say Rachel Benites, 48, reported a burglary on January 5th, and a Lubbock television station aired her story. She said she was a cancer patient whose home was broken into when she was away.
Donations started pouring in after the story aired. So did tips to the police.
Callers said they had gone to a sale at the woman's home a few days before the alleged burglary. They purchased the belongings that she later claimed had been stolen.
Police say she stuck to her story, even after showing her photographs of her the belongings she sold.
A Lubbock bank also alerted police to large withdraws from the assistance fund set for Benites, which they called unusual.
"Right now (the bank does not) have a legal means to stop the donations from being made, nor do they have legal ground to stop her from making withdraws, and several, large withdraws have been made," said Lubbock PD Capt. Greg Stevens.
Police proceeded with a criminal case against Benites in order to freeze the account. She was arrested late Wendesday afternoon.
Benites is charged with making a false report to a peace officer, but could face felony theft charges.
