Trial date is set for an Umpire woman accused of faking a cancer diagnosis

A December trial date has been set for a Howard County woman accused of faking a cancer diagnosis and collecting tens of thousands of dollars through a fundraiser held for her benefit.

38-year-old Nancy Myers has been charged with a single count of theft of property greater than $25,000 for what authorities say was a scheme to raise money through a false cancer diagnosis.

Myers, whose address is in Umpire according to court records, was initially charged April 19 in Howard County.

Myers was scheduled to appear for a jury trial in the Howard County Circuit Court on Oct. 17. In September, the court granted a continuance motion by her defense to reschedule the trial to Dec. 12.

According to the arrest affidavit, beginning in 2021 Myers claimed she was diagnosed with cancer. Numerous people in her community reportedly provided Myers money to assist with medical expanses. A benefit held in June 2022 raised approximately $32,000.

In early 2023, numerous concerned citizens reported that they did not believe Myers actually had cancer. The Howard County Sheriff’s Department opened an investigation and Myers was interviewed.

During the early stages of the interview Myers stated that she had been diagnosed with cancer and had received several cancer treatments, according to case information. Myers eventually told investigators that she had not been diagnosed with cancer and had not received any chemotherapy treatments, a fact she said she knew before the benefit was held for her cause.

Myers allegedly admitted to still possessing some of the money that was raised for her but that she had spent around $10,000 on car payments and other normal expenses.