'Monster' mom admits cancer hoax

CAMDEN

- A New Jersey woman has been sentenced to three years of probation for falsely claiming her 9-year-old son had cancer in an effort to raise money.

Susan Stillwaggon, 35, of Pennsauken, pleaded guilty yesterday to theft by deception, agreeing to serve 75 hours of community service and to reimburse one victim $327. She may be ordered to pay back other donors, too. Police have said she raised thousands of dollars through various small fundraisers.

At the hearing, she apologized for her actions, told the judge she is receiving mental-health treatment and admitted to fabricating that her son had Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Authorities say she maintained her story for months until officials at the boy's school became suspicious.

Christina Rebilas, a former friend who helped spearhead fundraising, recalled in court having emotionally difficult conversations with her children about how one of their soccer teammates might die.

"Sue is a monster," she wrote in a statement to the court.