Nevada Woman Admits to Faking Pancreatic Cancer to Scam Victims

Haleigh Knight pleaded guilty to felony theft charges after defrauding over $20,000 from sympathetic donors, including a real cancer survivor.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:06pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a bandaged hand holding a crumpled donation receipt, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually illustrates the deception behind a fraudulent online fundraiser.A recent wave of fraudulent online fundraisers has exploited the public's empathy, exposing the need for greater scrutiny of crowdsourced donations.Las Vegas Today

A Nevada woman named Haleigh Knight has admitted to faking a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in order to scam people out of over $20,000. Knight pleaded guilty to felony theft charges and confessed to creating fake GoFundMe accounts and directly asking victims for money, claiming she needed the funds for treatment. One of Knight's victims was an actual breast cancer survivor, Suzanne Duroy, who became Knight's "chemo angel" and provided nearly $1,000 in money and gifts after sympathizing with the phony cancer story.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of fraud and scams targeting vulnerable people, especially those dealing with serious illnesses. It also raises concerns about the ease with which people can create fake online fundraisers to exploit others' empathy and generosity. The impact on real cancer survivors, like Suzanne Duroy, who were manipulated by Knight's lies is particularly disturbing.

The details

According to court documents, Haleigh Knight admitted to police and prosecutors that she faked a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in order to gain people's "cash and sympathy." She reportedly confessed to creating fake GoFundMe accounts and directly asking victims for money, claiming she needed the funds for treatment. Text messages obtained by authorities showed Knight apologizing to one victim, Cydney Fink, and admitting she faked cancer "so that Cydney and her family along with Haleigh's family would feel guilty and more inclined to love and be around her if she claimed she was sick." Knight pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge and agreed to pay over $19,000 in restitution to her victims.

  • Knight's crimes took place between June 2023 and April 2024.
  • Knight is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2026.

The players

Haleigh Knight

A Nevada woman who admitted to faking a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in order to scam over $20,000 from sympathetic donors, including an actual cancer survivor.

Suzanne Duroy

A breast cancer survivor who became one of Knight's victims, providing nearly $1,000 in money and gifts after sympathizing with Knight's phony cancer story.

Cydney Fink

One of Knight's victims who provided photos to local media showing Knight taking selfies with bandages on as part of her cancer scam.

Rachel Riedel

One of Knight's victims who described her as a "sociopath" who will "scam you if she can touch you."

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What they’re saying

“She's a sociopath. She will scam you if she can touch you.”

— Rachel Riedel, Victim

“I felt heartbroken for her. I had a bilateral mastectomy, 33 radiation treatments, six chemotherapies, full hysterectomy, and I'm still currently taking medication for the cancer.”

— Suzanne Duroy, Breast Cancer Survivor

“I feel so manipulated that she would just use me for information when I was here with my husband, crying because I felt so bad for her. What she's done to all these other women is absolutely terrible, because so many were her friends, and they would have helped her if she needed help.”

— Suzanne Duroy, Breast Cancer Survivor

What’s next

Knight is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2026, where the judge will determine the final terms of her punishment, including the amount of restitution she must pay to her victims.

The takeaway

This case serves as a sobering reminder of the lengths some people will go to exploit the empathy and generosity of others, even targeting those dealing with genuine health crises. It highlights the need for greater scrutiny of online fundraising campaigns and the importance of verifying claims before donating to ensure funds go to legitimate causes.