Two individuals were arrested on Sunday for allegedly using a fabricated sob story to collect donations from well-meaning people trying to help with a child’s funeral costs.
Hemet police responded to reports of panhandlers walking through traffic at the intersection of Sanderson and Stetson avenues. The suspects were holding signs displaying a photo of a child and claiming that the child had died in a tragic traffic accident, seeking donations for funeral expenses.
Though the suspects had already left the scene by the time police arrived, officers were able to identify their vehicle using surveillance footage. The vehicle was located shortly after at 100 North Sanderson Avenue.
The suspects, identified as Marius Stan (the driver) and Malvina Stan (the passenger), were questioned separately. During questioning, they gave conflicting accounts regarding the child’s death. Police later discovered that the photo on the signs had actually been taken from a 2011 Romanian news article about a missing child.
Further investigation revealed multiple pieces of identification, EBT cards, passports, and other items indicating fraudulent activity. The couple was arrested and booked into Riverside County Jail, facing charges of soliciting donations under false pretenses.
In the end, the child shown in the photo was located safe and unharmed, according to authorities.
