Social Media Catches Woman who Hoaxed a Dying Cancer Patient in order to Meet Reality TV Star

Jan. 24, 2013 - PRLog -- January 25, 2013

Woman who used lies and deceit to con the family of a dying boy, all in an effort to meet a reality star, finally caught thanks to social media

Maple Valley, WA – The family of Thomas Doty have been searching for justice for a cruel hoax played on their son since his passing December 19, 2012.  Thomas passed after a rare form of bone cancer, osteosarcoma, had ravaged his body, but not his spirit.  Prior to his passing, he asked his family to find the woman who had given them so much false hope.  Thanks to the efforts of family, friends and social media the con woman has been identified.

The con woman, going by the name Johnnica Ellis stepped forward, sending sympathy emails, flowers and promises of $250,000 in aid. Ellis even sent a bank statement forged from Ally Bank, claiming that payment was on its way, but the money never came.

When the family tried to contact Ellis, they discovered that her phone and email address had been cancelled. Yet, Ellis would check in periodically with the family, promising money.

It all turned out to be an elaborate scheme, allegedly thought up by Marci Rose, of Harrisville New York.  Ms. Rose used social media to play on the heartstrings of a family’s tragedy, all to allegedly meet her on screen crush and friend of the Doty family, Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” personality Johnathan Hillstrand.

Ms. Rose allegedly created social media profiles for the fictitious “Ellis” family, including a made up sister who had passed, all in an elaborate ruse, all at the expense of a young man clinging to what ever hope he could find.  However, thanks to the same social media she used to hurt the Doty family, it also ultimately has become her undoing as she left a trail of ip addresses all leading back to the same person.  Marci Rose.

Now the Doty family waits, hoping that law enforcement will finally bring her to justice.  Justice for Thomas, and closure for a family still morning the passing of their beloved son, brother, grandson and friend.

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20130124/NEWS0...

#          #          #