DETROIT – One woman is accused of stealing donations from four children who lost their mother in a murder-suicide.
Jamie Dumas was killed just days before Christmas inside her Southfield home. Now, nearly two months later, a so-called friend of the family has been arrested, accused of taking off with the donations that were intended for her four children.
"The family didn't get a dime," said Tanni Dumas, Jamie Dumas' mother. "The family didn't get a dime. We didn't get anything. All we got is heartache after heartache."
For Tanni Dumas, the heartache began Dec. 22, when Jamie daughter was murdered by her husband, who then took his own life. Within days, Hailey Anderson, who was one of Jamie's friends, set up on online fundraiser.
The money, raised through "Give Forward," was to help Jamie's four kids. Jake, 14, is the oldest.
"She (was) always walking around bragging about how much the Give Forward account made," Jake said.
That amount was more than $5,000, much of it donated by parents and staff at the kids' elementary school.
Scott Cavazos, the father of thee of the kids, said he texted Anderson with his suspicions about what she was doing.
"She told me if I wanted donations we should have started our own account," Cavazos said.
The text was turned over to Farmington Hills police, who were investigating Anderson. She was arraigned Tuesday on a charge of violating the Charitable Solicitation Act, a five-year felony. She was released on a personal bond.
"It makes you really not want to trust people," Cavazos said.
Family members said they believes Anderson spent the money on herself instead of on Jamie's children.
"I think it's awful, Tanni Dumas said. "I got robbed of my daughter and my grandkids got robbed of a new future."