She faked pregnancy and cancer, police say. Now she may be after a baby, they warn

February 08, 2018 03:09 PM

Police in Cleveland, Ohio, had already been looking into fundraisers held by Dawn Brown to pay non-existent pregnancy and cancer bills. Now they’re afraid she may try to steal a baby, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital posted fliers in its maternity ward Thursday advising that Brown is “currently running an ongoing scam involving a fake pregnancy” and may try to take a baby from the hospital, following a warning from Cleveland police, the publication reported. A hospital spokesman said a memo with Brown’s photo also will be circulated.

"Based on information we received from the Cleveland Police Department, we have taken extra measures to ensure patients are safe and secure at Fairview Hospital,” read a statement released by the hospital to WOIO. We take this matter seriously and want to reassure our patients that their safety is our top priority."

Police have been investigating Brown and her husband, Ken Brown, a Cleveland police officer who resigned Wednesday, following a series of fundraisers in 2017 and 2018, ostensibly held to pay medical bills for Dawn Brown’s pregnancy and cancer fight, reported WKYC. Police told the station she does not have cancer and is not pregnant.

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A GoFundMe account set up for the couple claimed Dawn Brown had battled cancer since age 4 and said her baby was due Jan. 22 but that delivery had been moved up because of her impending death, according to the Plain Dealer. The account raised $720 in one week for "mounting bills, medical bills and funeral expenses" before it was shut down.

The Browns also held a “blood drive” fundraiser at the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association union hall on Jan. 14, reported WKYC.

WOIO reported that Ken Brown also posted to social media to say, “Doctor just called. Kassidy Marie, the baby would have a 5 percent chance of survival if delivered now and my beautiful wife still would have no chance at all."

Ken and Dawn Brown married Nov. 14, according to the Plain Dealer. In 2016, Dawn Brown, who has been married six times, made similar pregnancy claims, telling supporters she was expecting twins, WKYC reported. She later said the unborn babies had died as a result of her cancer.