Sarah Delashmit Faked Breast Cancer and Other Serious Ailments for 2 Decades. Here’s How the FBI Finally Stopped Her

**Former Nurse Sentenced to Prison for Elaborate Web of Deception**

Sarah Delashmit, a former nurse from Highland, Illinois, has garnered attention for her involvement in an extensive series of deceptive schemes over nearly two decades. Her actions, which included feigning various severe medical conditions, ultimately led to criminal charges and a federal prison sentence following an investigation by the FBI.

Delashmit initially came to public attention when she appeared on the popular television show ‘Dr. Phil’ in 2019. During her appearance, she confessed to having a “lying addiction,” admitting to fabricating stories about having terminal breast cancer and muscular dystrophy. The show featured several individuals who had been impacted by her deceitful actions, highlighting the emotional and financial toll her lies had taken on others. Despite her vows to seek help, her promises were short-lived, and she quickly returned to her fraudulent ways.

The trouble began for Delashmit when acquaintances grew suspicious of her claims. They reported her to the authorities, leading to an investigation that uncovered her elaborate deceptions. Over the years, she created multiple false identities and made extravagant claims about both herself and her fictitious family. Among her numerous fabrications were accounts of having children with rare diseases and surviving a kidnapping, as well as experiencing severe health complications from a supposed Ebola infection.

Despite all indications of her deceit, Delashmit continued to attract sympathy and support from various groups and individuals over the years. Her employment at Oklahoma University Medical Center as a neonatal nurse came to a sudden end following a workplace investigation that revealed she’d faked two pregnancies, including the supposed premature births of twins who had died. Following this incident, her nursing licenses in three states were revoked or suspended.

In 2015 and 2016, Delashmit attended a camp for people with disabilities, where she posed as a woman with muscular dystrophy. Her ability to manipulate others’ compassion allowed her to receive substantial support, including financial aid. However, her deception was exposed when she was observed standing up from a wheelchair, much to the shock of camp staff.

In the years that followed, she claimed to be living with stage IV breast cancer and became involved with various cancer support groups. Meanwhile, she fabricated a series of increasingly dramatic stories, including a false shooting incident that she claimed was an attack by a stalker. This particular lie, however, was quickly uncovered when her friends sought confirmation about the alleged event, prompting them to investigate her past further.

Seeking to help Delashmit, her friends contacted the producers of ‘Dr. Phil’, leading to her appearance on the show. There, she openly acknowledged her compulsive dishonesty and apologised to her victims, promising she would seek treatment. Yet within days of filming, she abandoned rehabilitation and returned to her deceitful ways, leading to significant concerns from those who had previously supported her.

Following her withdrawal from treatment, a fresh investigation revealed a range of fraudulent activities, including using a stolen identity to acquire a bicycle and fraudulent applications for grants designed to assist those with serious illnesses. In March 2020, Delashmit was indicted on eight federal charges, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Initially pleading not guilty, Delashmit later changed her position and accepted a plea deal. The U.S. District Court in Illinois sentenced her in January 2021 to 18 months in federal prison, a term longer than the sentence sought by prosecutors. The judge highlighted the serious impact of Delashmit’s actions on vulnerable individuals and the nonprofit organisations that served them.

Delashmit served 11 months of her sentence at a federal facility in Greenville, Illinois, where she reportedly acquired new skills, including crochet, and participated in group activities. She was released in March 2022, but little is known about her life since then. Former victims express concerns that Delashmit may reoffend, suggesting a pattern of behaviour that could easily lead her back into deceit.

While her online presence appears to have been erased, the legacy of her lies continues to affect the lives of those she deceived. Friends and victims remain wary, fearing that she may soon concoct another elaborate tale, demonstrating that the consequences of her actions may extend far beyond her time in prison.