March 18, 2024

Cancer hoax mother faces nearly $33,000 in restitution

ATLANTIC — A southwest Iowa mother convicted in a cancer hoax involving her 5-year-old daughter must make restitution totaling nearly $33,000,

Seven claimants stepped forward at a restitution hearing on Wednesday in Cass County District Court to request around $10,000 total. Cass County Attorney David Wiederstein says Judge Greg Steensland didn’t rule on any of the claims.

Once he rules, the total paid out will be deducted from the restitution that 30-year-old Leatha Slauson must pay. The remainder will be sent to cancer research-based charitable organizations.

Last month Slauson was sentenced to five years of probation. She’d pleaded guilty to child endangerment, theft and other crimes. Prosecutors say Slauson posted on a Facebook page that her daughter had colon cancer. Donations soon began pouring in.

Her story proved to be a lie.