A six-year-long ruse finally came crashing down when a school nurse discovered that a seven-year-old girl was not actually blind in her right eye as her mother Pamela Reed had claimed.
Because Reed had said the blindness was the result of her daughter’s fight with leukemia, the nurse contacted the girl’s healthcare provider only to learn that AR, as the girl is referred to in court documents, “did not have cancer or leukemia, and she never had cancer or leukemia,” according to an affidavit filed in Noble County Court in Ohio. In fact, the girl was perfectly healthy.
Since AR had missed more than 280 hours of classes this school year alone, the district reported the case to the police, who discovered that Reed had a far more sinister scheme than just keeping her daughter home from school.
Pamela Reed’s russe came to an end after a nurse discovered that her seven-year-old daughter didn’t actually have cancer
Image credits: Noble County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook
Image credits: Our “Rae” Of Sunshine – Team Addey Rae/Facebook
Via a Facebook page with over 1,000 followers, Reed had scammed concerned community members out of thousands of dollars by posting regular fundraisers for treatment. A charitable organization even donated $8,000.
However, what really horrified social media was the lengths Reed went to to convince everyone, including her own family members, that her daughter was sick. In addition to falsified healthcare records, Reed changed the labels on prescription bottles so they appeared to be cancer medication. She even went so far as to give AR seizure drugs when the girl wasn’t actually ill.
The nurse contacted the girl’s healthcare provider only to learn that AR, as the girl is referred to in court documents, “did not have cancer or leukemia”
Image credits: Our “Rae” Of Sunshine – Team Addey Rae/Facebook
To maintain the lie, Reed shaved her daughter’s head to make her look like she was in cancer treatment and posted images on the Facebook page of the girl receiving medical care, including one of an ultrasound and another of AR as a toddler with a nose tube.
A post from April 2020 even shows a pile of blood-filled vials, causing some to speculate what fake “treatments” Reed was subjecting her daughter to.
Via a Facebook page, Reed had scammed concerned community members out of thousands of dollars by posting regular fundraisers for treatment
Image credits: Our “Rae” Of Sunshine – Team Addey Rae/Facebook
AR’s mother made her miss over 280 hours of classes this school year alone
Image credits: Our “Rae” Of Sunshine – Team Addey Rae/Facebook
In the posts, Reed pleads for support. “[AR] could use some prayers going into the next few weeks…” she captioned a photo that appears to be of AR having blood drawn. “Pray we get some much needed answers!”
In addition to falsified healthcare records, Reed changed the labels on prescription bottles so they appeared to be cancer medication
Image credits: Our “Rae” Of Sunshine – Team Addey Rae/Facebook
After these revelations, the Noble County Sheriff’s Office arrested Pamela Reed on charges of “theft by deception.” As a fourth-degree felony, this carries up to 18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine, according to Ohio law. Social services also removed the rest of Reed’s children from her home over “concerns for their safety.”
While she waits for her preliminary hearing on January 16, Reed, held on a $50,000 bond, was transported to Noble County Jail, where many social media commenters believe she belongs.
“I am so glad someone reported their concerns and saved this baby,” a reader commented
probably with an "insanity plea" given this could be a case of Munchausen By Proxy, which is a mental illness that for whatever reason (I don't fully understand it) causes a parent to fake symptoms in their child, for attention. (similar to the case of Gypsy Rose's mother) , it's quite awful, really. Because in many cases, it stems from the parent having suffered abuse/neglect as a child themselves, or they had an illness as a child that required long stays in hospital etc, and they weren't able to fully process it. And whilst psychotherapy can help those with Munchausen or Munchausen by Proxy, most will refuse to even admit they have it. Still, it excuses nothing, because what has been done to this child is obviously awful abuse. :(
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Reminds me of the Gypsy Rose Blanchard story. Both were inflicted with insufferable abuse that will forever damage their lives. Another parallel is the Maddie Russo case; despite her actions, she got let off with a slap of the wrist that included three years of probation and paying back 33K to the victims she scammed.
I agree this sounds similar to Gypsy Rose although I wonder if this woman doesn't suffer from Munchausen and just wanted to use her daughter for money. At least Addey will hopefully be able to get out of this situation much earlier on compared to Gypsy and be able to have a normal childhood from now on
It definitely sounds like Munchausen by proxy if she was subjecting her daughter to different medical procedures and giving her meds she didn't need...that's more than a money scam to me.
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This is messed up in so many ways. It would have been bad enough if Reed had faked cancer herself. But she used her own child to line her pockets. There's no telling what that little girl has gone through as a result. I hope the judicial system dumps that piece of trash in prison with inmates that are doing time for "disciplining" an ex for abusing their children. But most of all, I hope her children, especially her daughter, find good homes with adoptive parents. They need stability in their lives right now.
I know little or nothing about MSBP, but it seems to link back to the parent (usually the mother? Correct me if wrong) having been abused as a child. A circle that never ends.
Not necessarily, although it is plausible. This also is not necessarily a case of Munchausen’s or FDIA given the financial motive.
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I don't understand how hospitals would treat a child without confirming a diagnosis. We're going to shove this tube up your toddler's nose and down her throat, with ZERO proof it's needed. HUH??? I do understand she messed with the medical records. But I'm sorry. The healthcare providers need a closer look here.
Apparently, factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA) / fabricated or induced illness by carers (FII) / Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP) has reached a new stage of evil. My worst fears have unfortunately come true. 😔 🤔 😨
I don‘t understand how this can even happen. Don‘t hospitals / Doctors do tests to confirm if the child really has that illness? WTF?
At least they caught this mom earlier than Gypsy Rose Blanchard. I'm sure having her story heard has helped catch people like this early.
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It is directly the fault or the f****d up medical system in the USA. The entire scam is based on the fact that. unless you are super wealthy, you cannot afford life-saving healthcare for your child. If we lived in a country which didn't hate children, this sort of scam would not take off. If we all knew that kids with cancer are ensured top medical care, we wouldn't feel the need to send money to a person whose child has cancer. Between the right-wing a******s thinking "poor people don't deserve to be treated for illness", and the left-wing asshiles thinking "who needs all the crotch-monsters of these breeders?" The majority of this country is against any possibility of affordable healthcare for any kid who isn't born to a wealthy family. Yes, I mean it about the left. I have read plenty of posts here by supposed "left-wing" people who think that kids are awful and who are unwilling to pay anything to help any child, rich or poor.
This is directly the fault of the mother abusing the heartstrings of society period. If it wasn't healthcare, it could have been any number of other excuses for needing money. She very likely just used her child's ill health (which she lied about) because it's one thing the general public can't exactly check the validity of very easily (HIPPA laws). The fact that she included subjecting her child to unnecessarily medical care (whether it is MSbP or not it equals to child abuse) means it goes far beyond a faulty healthcare system.
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Why refer to the child as "AR" if you are gonna have her name in the photo captions?
Her plea will, most likely, include a potential case of MBP, although it's going to be scrutinized far more now than it ever has been. That said, the child isn't even actually her child, she was placed with her. This was her intention all along, which seems more obvious now to those who have followed since day one (many of us have). Her older daughter was in on it as well, despite pretending she wasn't. She too was collecting money, asking for gifts, trying to "raise funds", and is now claiming ignorance to it all. She's getting married soon and nearly everything already paid for, or slotted to be, came from these ill-gotten funds. I hope she rots in jail right alongside her mother, where they both belong. I also hope authorities realize, Pam has been building this fake defense of MBP since she got the child in her custody (I have no doubt they will). My family, friends, neighbors are all heavily invested in this poor child's life, it's much worse than people think.
I'd like to understand how a Munchhausen by proxy mother chooses the child (if she has multiple) she abuses
This child is not biologically her child, for one. One of her older biological children was in on the scam though (not the one directly older than this little girl, the adult).
Load More Replies... probably with an "insanity plea" given this could be a case of Munchausen By Proxy, which is a mental illness that for whatever reason (I don't fully understand it) causes a parent to fake symptoms in their child, for attention. (similar to the case of Gypsy Rose's mother) , it's quite awful, really. Because in many cases, it stems from the parent having suffered abuse/neglect as a child themselves, or they had an illness as a child that required long stays in hospital etc, and they weren't able to fully process it. And whilst psychotherapy can help those with Munchausen or Munchausen by Proxy, most will refuse to even admit they have it. Still, it excuses nothing, because what has been done to this child is obviously awful abuse. :(
Load More Replies... Reminds me of the Gypsy Rose Blanchard story. Both were inflicted with insufferable abuse that will forever damage their lives. Another parallel is the Maddie Russo case; despite her actions, she got let off with a slap of the wrist that included three years of probation and paying back 33K to the victims she scammed.
I agree this sounds similar to Gypsy Rose although I wonder if this woman doesn't suffer from Munchausen and just wanted to use her daughter for money. At least Addey will hopefully be able to get out of this situation much earlier on compared to Gypsy and be able to have a normal childhood from now on
It definitely sounds like Munchausen by proxy if she was subjecting her daughter to different medical procedures and giving her meds she didn't need...that's more than a money scam to me.
Load More Replies... This is messed up in so many ways. It would have been bad enough if Reed had faked cancer herself. But she used her own child to line her pockets. There's no telling what that little girl has gone through as a result. I hope the judicial system dumps that piece of trash in prison with inmates that are doing time for "disciplining" an ex for abusing their children. But most of all, I hope her children, especially her daughter, find good homes with adoptive parents. They need stability in their lives right now.
I know little or nothing about MSBP, but it seems to link back to the parent (usually the mother? Correct me if wrong) having been abused as a child. A circle that never ends.
Not necessarily, although it is plausible. This also is not necessarily a case of Munchausen’s or FDIA given the financial motive.
Load More Replies... I don't understand how hospitals would treat a child without confirming a diagnosis. We're going to shove this tube up your toddler's nose and down her throat, with ZERO proof it's needed. HUH??? I do understand she messed with the medical records. But I'm sorry. The healthcare providers need a closer look here.
Apparently, factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA) / fabricated or induced illness by carers (FII) / Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP) has reached a new stage of evil. My worst fears have unfortunately come true. 😔 🤔 😨
I don‘t understand how this can even happen. Don‘t hospitals / Doctors do tests to confirm if the child really has that illness? WTF?
At least they caught this mom earlier than Gypsy Rose Blanchard. I'm sure having her story heard has helped catch people like this early.
Load More Replies... It is directly the fault or the f****d up medical system in the USA. The entire scam is based on the fact that. unless you are super wealthy, you cannot afford life-saving healthcare for your child. If we lived in a country which didn't hate children, this sort of scam would not take off. If we all knew that kids with cancer are ensured top medical care, we wouldn't feel the need to send money to a person whose child has cancer. Between the right-wing a******s thinking "poor people don't deserve to be treated for illness", and the left-wing asshiles thinking "who needs all the crotch-monsters of these breeders?" The majority of this country is against any possibility of affordable healthcare for any kid who isn't born to a wealthy family. Yes, I mean it about the left. I have read plenty of posts here by supposed "left-wing" people who think that kids are awful and who are unwilling to pay anything to help any child, rich or poor.
This is directly the fault of the mother abusing the heartstrings of society period. If it wasn't healthcare, it could have been any number of other excuses for needing money. She very likely just used her child's ill health (which she lied about) because it's one thing the general public can't exactly check the validity of very easily (HIPPA laws). The fact that she included subjecting her child to unnecessarily medical care (whether it is MSbP or not it equals to child abuse) means it goes far beyond a faulty healthcare system.
Load More Replies... Why refer to the child as "AR" if you are gonna have her name in the photo captions?
Her plea will, most likely, include a potential case of MBP, although it's going to be scrutinized far more now than it ever has been. That said, the child isn't even actually her child, she was placed with her. This was her intention all along, which seems more obvious now to those who have followed since day one (many of us have). Her older daughter was in on it as well, despite pretending she wasn't. She too was collecting money, asking for gifts, trying to "raise funds", and is now claiming ignorance to it all. She's getting married soon and nearly everything already paid for, or slotted to be, came from these ill-gotten funds. I hope she rots in jail right alongside her mother, where they both belong. I also hope authorities realize, Pam has been building this fake defense of MBP since she got the child in her custody (I have no doubt they will). My family, friends, neighbors are all heavily invested in this poor child's life, it's much worse than people think.
I'd like to understand how a Munchhausen by proxy mother chooses the child (if she has multiple) she abuses
This child is not biologically her child, for one. One of her older biological children was in on the scam though (not the one directly older than this little girl, the adult).
Load More Replies...
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