Officials seek victims of Alabama woman who faked terminal cancer diagnosis for donations

Published 6:44 am Sunday, April 18, 2021

Officials are looking for victims who donated money to an Alabama woman who they say faked a cancer diagnosis to solicit money.

Huntsville resident Dawn Maxwell, also known as Dawn Lineberger, 40, was arrested Wednesday for theft by deception and other outstanding warrants.

Maxwell was booked in the Madison County Jail with a $5,000 bond.

Officials say Maxwell received donations from the community, a local church and a GoFundMe page after she falsely claimed she had stage IV breast cancer and was terminally ill. Maxwell reportedly shaved her head to make it look like she had been taking cancer treatments.

Huntsville police are asking people who donated money to Maxwell or to her alias, Dawn Linberger, to contact the police department at 256-722-7100 and 256-427-7020.

Officials say the investigation is ongoing, and that more charges could be filed in the case.