- On March 9, 2022, Maddie Russo published on her GoFundMe page about her stomach cancer diagnosis.
- According to requests from the police for Russo’s medical records, no hospital or medical facility has ever confirmed the presence of cancer or a tumor in Russo.
- The young woman is accused of embezzling approximately $37,303 from around 439 contributors.
The revelation that Madison Russo’s cancer was a fabrication came to light after the 19-year-old was found to be deceiving people in order to collect donations totaling around $37k.
Russo hails from Bettendorf, Iowa. Authorities began investigating the teenager’s GoFundMe page after medical professionals allegedly discovered inconsistencies in Russo’s social media posts about her illness.
Russo is facing charges for stealing around $37,303 from about 439 donors. She is currently held in detention on a $10,000 cash-only bail as she has not provided a statement. The investigation is ongoing.
On March 9, 2022, Maddie Russo posted on her GoFundMe page about her stomach cancer diagnosis.
According to GoFundMe, Russo is a student at St. Ambrose University. She received a cancer diagnosis on February 10, 2022. She immediately commenced “radiation treatments and intensive chemotherapy” to combat the cancer.
GoFundme mentioned on their page, “As one can imagine, this diagnosis has been very hard on Maddie’s family. Just like with any cancer diagnosis, the cost of medical bills, gas, meals, and expenses can be a burden, and that is something this family should not have to worry about.“
Sources with medical expertise reportedly alerted the police about apparent medical irregularities in Madison Russo’s claim. On January 11, 2023, Russo was brought to the attention of the Eldridge Police Department.
Based on the requests from the police for Russo’s medical records, no hospital or medical facility has ever affirmed the presence of cancer or a tumor in Russo.
According to GoFundMe, she allegedly had stage 2 stomach cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and a tumor entwined around her spine. The GoFundMe platform has been deactivated since the incident.
