Overview
- Federal prosecutors say Vanessa O’Rourke was indicted on 15 counts of wire fraud on May 3, 2018, and a federal and international arrest warrant was issued after she disappeared.
- The FBI has renewed its public manhunt and listed O’Rourke among its most wanted fugitives while asking the public for tips about her whereabouts.
- Authorities allege O’Rourke told friends and family she had terminal glioblastoma between October 2015 and July 2016 to solicit money for treatment and travel.
- Investigators say donations, including roughly $11,740 from more than 140 people, funded trips to Australia in 2016 where O’Rourke allegedly spent time sightseeing instead of getting medical care.
- The case highlights how crowdfunding pages and community benefit events can be exploited and has prompted renewed scrutiny of medical fundraisers and calls for vigilance from donors.