Cancer victim scammed by fake cancer victim

ANGOLA, Ind. (WANE)--A woman from Steuben County who has been diagnosed with terminal skin cancer said she gave more than $1,000 to the Angola woman who faked having cancer.

Nancy Schort, 43, tries to live every day to the fullest.  She’s recently been diagnosed with stage four metastatic melanoma.  Doctors gave the single mother with two teenage sons 18 months to live.

Like many folks around the Angola area, Schort went to a benefit for April Landis on March 18.  Police say Landis, 27, told people she had a rare form of brain cancer.  The community raised thousands of dollars for Landis during the benefit.

Schort said she gave $1,200 at the fundraiser and even spoke with Landis.  Schort said she used the money she received from her life insurance, since her cancer is terminal.

“I said, ‘I’m so sorry that you have to go through this,’ and she (Landis) said, ‘We’ll make it together,’” Schort said.

But on Thursday, everything unraveled.  Detectives said Landis came into the Angola Police Department, told them she didn't have cancer, and returned thousands of dollars.

The news hit Schort especially hard.

“I want to know why she did this, how could she do this, and how could she look me in the face and lie to me,” Schort said.  “I feel like she’s made fun of my situation and people like me that have cancer. ”

Schort said she most likely won’t be getting her donation back since it was in cash and there’s no proof.  But she asked detectives to give it to the Steuben County Cancer Association.

The single mother of two said her church has been a great support system through her tough situation and is working to forgive Landis.  Schort hopes Landis’ fake cancer scam won’t deter the community from supporting those who really have the disease and need help.

“I don’t want the community and other people to stop giving because of something that April did,” Schort said.  “Because there are people that need our help.”

Leaders with the Steuben County Cancer Association say the organization did not play any part in the Landis benefit.

Landis is expected to receive theft and fraud by deception charges.