Cancer Scammer Found Dead In Idaho

((HT:KPVI-TV Pocatello, Idaho-Suzanne Hobbs/Brooks))

A bizarre story is unfolding out of Bonneville County that is also getting attention from around the world. Investigators say a woman made up quite a story and committed a big scam. For more than a year, she created an on-line identity, taking advantage of celebrities, cancer charities and anyone who was willing to give. But she will not be facing criminal charges.

According to a news release, on Tuesday, the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office was notified that there is a woman pretending to be a teenager suffering from brain cancer but it was all a lie.

Late last week, Melissa Ann Rice from Ammon ((pictured, thanks KPVI-TV)), told a campaigner for Livestrong, the Lance Armstrong Foundation that Jonathan Jay White did not exist. On Wednesday, the Bonneville County Prosecutor was ready to charge Melissa Rice with grand theft by fraud but she was found dead in her car in the hills five miles east of Idaho Falls, from an apparent suicide.

In the blog for Jonathan Jay White it says he is a 15 year old boy from Idaho who, since April 2008 has been suffering from brain cancer. Thousands of people around the world followed his on-line postings.

But the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office says the real Jonathan Jay White is 24 year old Melissa Rice.

Most recently, the blogs talked about a life-saving operation in Arizona scheduled for mid- July. Even Lance Armstrong sent a Twitter to Jonathan last week wishing him the best. It said, "We're all pulling for you!!! Feel better my man. Lots of folks thinking about you!!"

Melissa reportedly confessed to her web of lies when it all caught up to her, says Sgt. Doug Metcalf with the sheirff's office.

Sgt. Doug Metcalf: "Last week she was supposed to arrive in Arizona for actual surgery and when the charities said hey good luck on your surgery, we'll have somebody there, that's when this Melissa contacted them and said hey this is a fraud I'm sorry."

That's when the sheriff's office got involved.

Metcalf says many people were victims of this scam. Detectives say a fund was set up where thousands of dollars was being collected. That money is safe because it was never sent to the Ammon address. But it's unclear how much money was sent directly to her Ammon apartment. With a warrant in hand, deputies went inside and recovered numerous items donated for Jonathan like an autographed guitar from country singer Kenny Chesney, and a skateboard from Tony Hawk.

On Jonathans blog, it reportedly said, "I dream about running the Ironman, about meeting Lance Armstrong and Miley Cirus, about becoming a doctor and achieving everything on my list."

Now with Melissa's apparent suicide this week, the criminal case is closed.

Sgt. Doug Metcalf: "The charges have been dismissed due to her death. The rest of the follow up is collecting information on victims and trying to return property."

This investigation is only days old. Detectives want to know who all the victims are. Sgt. Metcalf says there are many cancer foundations and celebrities and people who fell for this story and followed the postings and gave money.

The amount scammed is not known. Detectives want to return as many of the donated items as they can. They are getting calls from all over the United States from victims and this story is circulating around the world.

One woman named Gena who says she is with the CancerClimber Association writes that she chatted regularly with Jonathan. She wrote on-line that it was "a huge con by a sick person that took advantage of many people" but she hopes it won't stop others from giving.

On Jonathan's website, Rice posted a picture of all the items donated and autographed, apprarently by Lance Armstrong. His was one of many cancer groups that was allegedly scammed.

Lance Armstrong Twittered that learning of what happened was "seriously disturbing news."

The sheriff's office says a case like this is rare for the Idaho Falls community, and unfortunate to have happen.

Sgt. Doug Metcalf: "Going nationwide trying to fraud on people for donations and things like that, thats very unique, different for our area."

As for any information about who Melissa Rice is, Sgt. Metcalf says the only dealing they've had with her is a car accident and compaint a few months ago about some bad checks she wrote.

Neighbors in her apartment complex on Curlew said they didn't know her.

Here's the coverage from KIFI-TV in Idaho Falls...
Hailey Higgins is in the newsroom with more...