The family of a woman who died of a drug overdose is receiving a gift following a theft from a fundraising site.
Sheila Fauteux said her daughter Tabitha Fauteux, 26, died in November from a drug overdose while she was on a work trip in California. Twelve hours later, Fauteux said she was approached by her daughter’s friend and former roommate, 26-year-old Krystal Gentley. Fauteux said Gentley told her she had created a GoFundMe page to help the family get Tabitha’s body back from California and pay for her funeral.
Fauteux said when they tried to collect the money, Gentley would either give the family excuses or not return their calls. When the family contacted the GoFundMe site, they were told the account had been closed and more than $5,300 that had been raised was withdrawn.
Now GoFundMe says they will be returning the money to the family.
"GoFundMe is providing the family of Tabitha Fauteux with the money raised on her behalf," a company spokesperson said in an email. "We want to make sure they receive the help they need during this distressing time."
"Fraud is very rare on the GoFundMe platform, but when it does happen, we do everything we can to make sure that those affected get the help they need," the spokesman added.
"You gotta be careful who you really trust. I never thought she would have done this to not only us but to Tabitha," said Fauteux. "Tabitha just passed and pretty much 12 hours later, she opened a GoFund me, so she knew what she was doing. And that’s what hurts."
Gentley was charged with theft by deception. She was released on $5,000 cash bail pending her arraignment on May 17. Gentley’s brother denied the claims, saying they were not true and that she was just trying to help her friend. However, Fauteux said she wants her held accountable.
"What she did was rotten. It was not right to do," said Fauteux.
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