Couple allegedly raised $60,000 in donations after faking son’s eye cancer diagnosis: Cops

An Adelaide couple have been charged after allegedly faking their son’s cancer to raise $60,000.

Michelle Bodzsar and her husband Ben Stephen Miller allegedly claimed their six-year-old son had stage one eye cancer, setting up a crowdfunding page and pleading for donations for their son’s treatment.

Bodzsar, a hairdresser, allegedly asked a colleague to help her shave her son’s hair and eyebrows.

She also allegedly bandaged her legs and placed her in a wheelchair.

Police allege the couple, who are both 44, raised $60,000 in a short time with friends, family and parents at their son’s private school donating generously to the cause.

Police claim the boy was not being treated for cancer and the couple were arrested on Friday morning.

Late on Friday, the pair appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with one count of committing an act likely to cause harm and one count of fraud.

The police claim that the crimes took place between November 18 and December 12 of this year.

Court documents allege the couple “engaged to represent” the child “had cancer, knowing that engaging in such acts was likely to cause him harm” or were “recklessly indifferent to whether harm to such was caused”. € €

The charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison if convicted.

Bodzsar was held in custody until January.

Her husband’s lawyer requested that he be considered under house arrest at his parents’ address.

Magistrate Alison Adair said she was prepared to consider Miller’s request.

“After reading the charges, it appears that this defendant is less involved than the other defendant in this criminal offense,” she said.

Miller has been remanded in custody pending a home detention bail investigation report next week.

Speaking about the charges on Friday, Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia said: “I couldn’t think of a more devious or cruel scheme for parents to do to their child.”