July 17, 2020 - Kellie Kuhnel Walker (28), a former resident of Mariposa County, was detained at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport on Thursday, July 16, 2020, on a warrant connected with Grand Theft. The case was reported to the Sheriff’s Office in early 2019 and revolves around an incident in 2014 where Walker allegedly scammed over 60 people into donating money to help pay for medical bills due to her being diagnosed with Cancer.

In 2019, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a concerned citizen that over $10,000 had been raised for Walker’s cancer treatments throughout the Mariposa community. The citizen was worried the fundraising efforts may have been done so fraudulently because Walker was now pregnant. According to the reporting party Walker had allegedly told friends and family she had reproductive organs removed as part of her cancer treatment.

In 2014, Walker (then 22 years old) informed her friends and family that she had stage 2 Ovarian cancer. Friends and family of Walker set up a bank account at a local bank branch, and a fundraising dinner was held, where it is believed over 200 guests attended, all in order to help Walker and her family deal with the tragic diagnosis and associated medical expenses. In addition to the bank account and fundraising dinner, a GoFundMe account was created and shared on social media where funds were also donated.

Walker allegedly continued the cancer charade by asking close friends and family to drive her and drop her off at medical appointments. Walker sent thank you emails to many of her donors letting them know she was currently going through chemotherapy treatments and thanking many of them for the funds they kindly donated to help pay her medical expenses. 

During the yearlong investigation, financial crimes investigators spoke to numerous individuals who donated funds either through GoFundMe or the local bank branch, which were traced back to over 60 individuals/families.

On June 25, 2020, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Walker, who is now living in New Mexico. Kellie Kuhnel Walker was located yesterday, 7/16/2020, at the Fresno International Airport where she was arrested and transported to the Mariposa County Adult Detention Facility. Walker was booked on charges of 487 PC - Grand Theft and 532(A) PC - Theft by False Pretense. She was released on $50,000 bail.

If you feel you were a victim of Kellie Kuhnel Walker and have not been previously interviewed by the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, please contact Detective Jennifer Lobaugh at 209-966-3615.

Source: Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office