A beauty queen from Pennsylvania is being stripped of her crown after she was accused of lying about having leukemia to benefit from fundraisers.
Brandi Weaver-Gates has been the reigning Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International pageant winner.
Online court records show the 23-year-old, of State College, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of theft by deception and receiving stolen property.
Investigators in Centre County said events were set up to raise money for her medical bills. Police said Weaver-Gates took the money even though she didn’t have cancer.
State police said an April bingo benefit raised $14,000.
Police said Weaver-Gates went as far as shaving her head. In addition, police said she had family members drive her to a hospital, where she would wait, and then return hours later to appear as though she got treatment.
In a statement on its Facebook page, Butler’s Beauties, the pageant organizer, said in part, "Effectively immediately, Ms. Weaver-Gates is no longer a representative of the Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International organization and will be required to return her crown and sash upon her release from being detained."
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Troopers are asking the public to come forward if they have donated money to Weaver-Gates.
Records don't list an attorney for Weaver-Gates, who faces a preliminary hearing Aug. 19.
