Woman, 37, pretended to be 12-year-old to live with foster family, convicted of fraud

Live updates

1. 21d ago

   Woman Convicted of Fraud After Posing as 12-Year-Old Girl

   A woman has been convicted of fraud after pretending to be a 12-year-old girl to live with a foster family. Sources disagree on her actual age, with reports citing her as either 37 or 38 years old. The deception involved posing as a child to trick the family into adopting her. While some reports indicate she is currently on trial, others confirm a conviction has already been reached.

   Why it matters

   The case involves a long-term identity deception to secure housing and legal adoption. It highlights vulnerabilities in foster care screening processes. The legal proceedings focus on the fraudulent nature of the woman's claims.

   What is confirmed

   • A woman pretended to be 12 years old to live with a foster family.
   • The woman was convicted of fraud.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The woman is 37 years old.
   • The woman is 38 years old.
   • The woman pretended to be autistic to trick the family into adopting her.

   What to watch next

   • Sentencing details and duration of the fraud penalty
   • Court clarification on the defendant's actual age
   • Details on how the deception was discovered
   Sources used for this update (5)

   1. People.com — Woman Convicted After Posing as 12-Year-Old Girl and Living with Foster Family
   2. The Washington Post — At 37, she pretended to be 12. Now she’s on trial for fraud.
   3. The Times — She said she was 12. She was actually 38
   4. AL.com — Woman, 37, pretended to be 12-year-old to live with foster family, convicted of fraud
   5. The Independent — Woman, 37, pretended to be an autistic 12 year-old girl to trick family into adopting her
   confidence 70%