A 28-year-old Florida woman is wanted after Harris County Precinct 1 Constable investigators say she created a fake online fundraiser impersonating the family of Camp Mystic counselor Chloe Childress, who passed away in the devastating Independence Day floods in Kerr County, Texas.
Maitlin Paige White, 28, is charged with two counts of felony online impersonation. She is not currently in custody in connection with the charges.
“This was a very, very dumb, stupid, unconscionable thing to do to a family that already was suffering so greatly,” Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said.
In addition to the fraudulent GoFundMe, Precinct 1 investigators wrote in charging records that a second campaign was set up on Spotfund, and both campaigns used Childress’ name and picture in an attempt to solicit donations.
Childress, 18, graduated from Houston’s Kincaid School and served as a counselor at Camp Mystic when flooding along the Guadalupe River killed her and more than 100 others.
Records from both online companies obtained by investigators revealed the campaigns were set up by White, who used her phone number, email address and bank routing number.
“She was not a very sophisticated criminal,” Rosen said.
The fraudulent campaigns were created July 8, just four days after the floods.
“The defendant’s conduct is despicable and she should be considered a danger to the community,” prosecutors wrote in a document requesting a bond.
When reached by phone, White allegedly provided specific details that only someone involved in the commission of the offense would know, according to records.
White allegedly told Pct. 1 she is a single mother of two young children and was “looking for a quick way to make some money.”
She also allegedly admitted to linking her bank account to the fraudulent campaigns so the donations would go directly to her bank account.
“She really didn’t make any money off of it, thank God, but to have something as tragic as what went on and to try to scam off of it is just something that none of us as a society can deal with,” Rosen said.
Court records show White has criminal history in Florida for theft-related offenses, and she appears to have a pending felony domestic violence case.
Rosen said he will ensure she is brought to Texas to face justice.
If anyone has information on White’s whereabouts, call the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office at 713-755-5200.
GoFundMe sent KPRC 2 the following statement:
“GoFundMe has zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform and bad actors who seek to take advantage of the generosity of others. Our team acted quickly to remove the fundraiser back in July, refund donors, and ban the account from future fundraising on GoFundMe. Thanks to our Trust & Safety procedures, at no point did the organizer have access to the total $5 raised.”