Northwood woman fakes being diagnosed with cancer

Published 12:01 pm Wednesday, December 25, 2019

After a two-month long investigation, a Northwood woman, who authorities say falsely claimed she was diagnosed with cancer — and received multiple donations because of it, was arrested Friday.

Jennifer Hope Mikesell was arrested on charges of ongoing criminal conduct, second-degree theft, fraudulent practices and four counts of forgery.

Jennifer Mikesell

According to the Worth County Sheriff’s Office, Mikesell claimed she was diagnosed with cancer and was receiving cancer treatments at Mayo Clinic Health System in Rochester, which was found to be untrue.

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She had received multiple donations of money, food and other supplies and had also received a bedroom makeover from My Happy Haven, a nonprofit organization that renovates bedrooms of women with cancer, in October.

The investigation is ongoing, and there may be further charges, a press release stated.

The Worth County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, Albert Lea Police Department, Osage Police Department and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Broward County, Florida.