Texan Girl Accused of Faking Leukemia Scams Donors Out of $17K, Faces Judge

A West Texas teenage girl faces theft charges for collecting nearly $17,000 in donations after she told people she would be dead of leukemia in six months. That was nine months ago, and she's still alive.

Ruth Angelica Gomez, 18, of Horizon City, was charged on Thursday with theft by deception for receiving the donations under false pretenses. Police filed state jail felony charges against Gomez earlier this week after subpoenaing her bank records, and the district attorney's office is reviewing the case before authorities consider any possible arrest, according to The Associated Press.

We haven't found anything that indicates that she does have leukemia, Horizon City police Detective Liliana Medina told the AP.

Investigators have been looking into complaints since June that Gomez didn't seem sick.

The Web site for her foundation wasn't in service on Thursday, but the Houston Chronicle reported that an archived version showed a smiling Gomez sporting a dark T-shirt with her organization's green ribbon-shaped logo and the tagline: 'Behind every fighter there is a supporter. Will you be mine?'

The doctors are telling me to prepare myself and to start planning for what's about to come, Gomez told The El Paso Times, saying she had only six months to live.

Gomez hasn't commented yet on the allegations.