Honk News (Indianapolis, IN) – An Indiana woman who attracted public compassion for her sick daughter is reportedly accused of misrepresenting the actual nature of the girl’s illness.
Katherine Jackson, 41, faces serious allegations as prosecutors have charged her with felony neglect and fraud, according to court documents. Jackson previously appeared on WANE to raise awareness and seek donations for her young daughter, who Jackson reportedly stated had a terminal genetic disorder.
Prosecutors stated that although the daughter had a genetic condition, it was chronic rather than terminal. Authorities involved in the investigation have also claimed that Jackson failed to ensure her daughter received the necessary medication refills as prescribed.
In previous years, Jackson reportedly made multiple questionable assertions regarding her young daughter’s diagnosis of a genetic condition referred to as Pilarowski-Bjornsson Syndrome (PBS), along with another illness identified as Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS). According to a claim made by Jackson on a GoFundMe page in 2021, the symptoms her daughter faced resulted in her experiencing “80-90 seizures per day.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, seizures may indicate the presence of PBS.
A fundraising campaign launched in July 2021 revealed that a 5-year-old girl was given just six months to a year to live, expressing her heartfelt wish to visit Walt Disney World. The Make-A-Wish Foundation and WANE took notice of her story, with the latter featuring a report on the child’s illness in August 2022.
Jackson shared with WANE, “Only 10 people in the whole world ever had it and she’s the only survivor. It’s called Pilarowski-Bjornsson Syndrome. She will never get better.”
According to court documents, it was noted that although the girl was diagnosed with PBS, Jackson provided misleading information regarding the condition, which is chronic rather than terminal.
Prosecutors stated that the necessary medications for the girl were not being provided to her.
Three weeks following the 2022 WANE report, Jackson brought her daughter to the hospital, where medical professionals raised concerns about potential abuse. The young girl persisted in experiencing seizures and additional symptoms, even after being given medications intended to manage her condition.
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Medical professionals at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis have allegedly found that Jackson was not replenishing the prescriptions given for her daughter. After the hospital visit, Jackson’s two younger children, aged 5 and 6, were placed into foster care. According to reports, the foster parents informed authorities that both children were not potty trained and were not attending school.
Jackson faces a charge of fraud along with two charges related to the neglect of a dependent. Every single charge is a felony.