Mom Who Faked Son's Cancer To Stand Trial
DETROIT (WWJ) - A Roseville woman accused of faking her son's cancer to swindle money from her church and other donors will stand trial. Carol Schnuphase decided to forego her preliminary examination in district court.
Schnuphases' aunt Lorraine Kelsch was present in the courtroom on Wednesday. She has made all of her niece's court dates and promises to be at every one of them to the finish.
"I wanna know exactly what went on and what she was thinking, or whatever. I mean, what could she have been thinking," Kelsch told WWJ Newsradio 950 Ron Dewey.
The 47-year-old Schnuphase allegedly told her son he had cancer, and then collected thousands of dollars at fundraisers to supposedly help with his medical bills. She's accused of shaving the 12-year-old boy's head and eyebrows, and feeding him opiate-laced food to make him seem sick.
Kelsch says she is not surprised Schnuphase was found competent to stand trial. She believes her niece had the scam thought out from day one.
"She had us completely and absolutely convinced. She even called us in the middle of the night to tell us he had died," Kelsh said.
With his client found mentally competent to stand trial, Schnuphase's attorney, Dominic Greco says they will forgo the preliminary exam, given the standards of probable cause had been reached and the case was not likely to be dismissed.
Greco says they will find out if the prosecution will offer a plea bargain to their liking. Otherwise,
Schnuphase faces up to 14 years in prison upon conviction
She remains jailed after a request to lower her bond was denied. Her son is in foster care.
