A former Springdale woman has been charged with felony theft for allegedly lying about the deaths of her children in Oklahoma in order to collect money from co-workers and charities, reports the Associated Press. An affidavit filed by Springdale police says Angela Dawn Carroll received about $14,000 after telling co-workers that one child died in 2008 and that a second child died in 2009. The affidavit says Carroll then claimed in 2010 that she had cancer.
The Northwest Arkansas Times reports that two co-workers who went to Tahlequah, Okla., in search of the children’s graves found them living with Carroll’s parents. Police say Carroll is not in custody — but told investigators by phone that she never claimed her children died and said that she had been ill — but is cured.