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Print This StoryFather Defends Self, Wife In Fake Cancer Case
Story Attracting National Attention
UPDATED: 11:42 am EST January 16,
2003
URBANA, Ohio -- The father of a 7-year-old Ohio girl is defending himself and his wife on charges that they pretended the girl had leukemia to get money.
Robert Milbrandt and his attorneys appeared on NBC's "Today" show Thursday morning.Milbrandt, his wife, Teresa, and his mother-in-law, were arrested on Tuesday in Urbana following a supervised visit with the girl.Police said Urbana residents raised about $10,000 for the family since April.Milbrandt said that he had no idea that his daughter wasn't really sick. He said he trusted his wife when it came to medical and financial matters.He also said that he believes the problems are a result of an illness his wife has.His attorneys said that they don't know what happened to the money.The story is drawing attention to a community that is still stunned by the alleged hoax.David Curnutte is one of countless Urbana residents who donated money to help who he thought was a little girl with leukemia.
The family members are charged with giving Hannah Milbrandt sleeping pills, shaving her head, putting her through counseling to prepare her for her death, all while collecting the money from donations."It's a criminal case," Kevin Talebi, Teresa Milbrandt's attorney said. "Someone is charged with a very serious felony. Any time someone is charged with a very serious felony, there's a big task ahead for the defense counsel."Robert Milbrandt's attorney said that his client had no idea that Hannah was not sick."When you start believing it's true and you go forward from that point, it all fit," Mark Feinstein, Robert Milbrandt's attorney said.The town of 11,000 people also believed. Curnette's daughter Emily, who was in Hannah's class, is still trying to make sense of what happened to her friend."When I found out she really wasn't sick, I felt really bad for her at first, then I was glad, because she wasn't sick and she wasn't going to die," Emily Curnette said.Hanna Milbrandt is now in the care of Champaign County Job and Family Services. Her parents and grandmother are scheduled to be back in court next week.
Robert Milbrandt and his attorneys appeared on NBC's "Today" show Thursday morning.Milbrandt, his wife, Teresa, and his mother-in-law, were arrested on Tuesday in Urbana following a supervised visit with the girl.Police said Urbana residents raised about $10,000 for the family since April.Milbrandt said that he had no idea that his daughter wasn't really sick. He said he trusted his wife when it came to medical and financial matters.He also said that he believes the problems are a result of an illness his wife has.His attorneys said that they don't know what happened to the money.The story is drawing attention to a community that is still stunned by the alleged hoax.David Curnutte is one of countless Urbana residents who donated money to help who he thought was a little girl with leukemia.The family members are charged with giving Hannah Milbrandt sleeping pills, shaving her head, putting her through counseling to prepare her for her death, all while collecting the money from donations."It's a criminal case," Kevin Talebi, Teresa Milbrandt's attorney said. "Someone is charged with a very serious felony. Any time someone is charged with a very serious felony, there's a big task ahead for the defense counsel."Robert Milbrandt's attorney said that his client had no idea that Hannah was not sick."When you start believing it's true and you go forward from that point, it all fit," Mark Feinstein, Robert Milbrandt's attorney said.The town of 11,000 people also believed. Curnette's daughter Emily, who was in Hannah's class, is still trying to make sense of what happened to her friend."When I found out she really wasn't sick, I felt really bad for her at first, then I was glad, because she wasn't sick and she wasn't going to die," Emily Curnette said.Hanna Milbrandt is now in the care of Champaign County Job and Family Services. Her parents and grandmother are scheduled to be back in court next week. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
