Man accused of stealing from dying girl's family held on $1,500 bond

NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio - The North Olmsted man accused of spending money meant for a dying relative is being held on $1,500 bond.

Hamza Abuhamdeh, 35, was indicted on three counts of theft and three counts of aggravated theft. His bond was continued during his arraignment Thursday.

Maysoon Haq, a cousin of Abuhamdeh, had a sick daughter, 12-year-old Sabreen, who was suffering from brain cancer.

Sabreen was admitted to a hospital in May 2009 for cancer treatment. The Make-A-Wish Foundation offered her a wish, and Sabreen wished to live in a home with her mother and siblings, rather than their Rocky River apartment.

The Rocky River school district and community joined forces to raise $120,000 for Sabreen. Maysoon says she gave the money to Abuhamdeh to buy a home on Fielding Drive in North Olmsted.

Police say Abuhamdeh did buy a home, but in his name instead of Maysoon’s. Maysoon says Abuhamdeh dragged out the renting process and ultimately rented the house to someone else.

Sabreen died without her family ever moving into the home.

After a year of investigation, police say they gave Abuhamdeh a chance to pay the money back or release the home. He could only return $30,000, and police arrested him for grand theft.

Abuhamdeh pleaded not guilty Thursday. His case was assigned to Judge Joan Synenberg.