Private school breaks its silence over alleged child cancer scam in letter to parents

A private school has sent a letter to parents after the mother and father of a pupil allegedly faked their son’s cancer diagnosis to dupe wellwishers out of $60,000.

The school in Adelaide’s western suburbs sent a letter to the parents after news of the alleged scam broke on Friday night.

Ben Miller and Michelle Bodzsar, both 44, of West Lakes, a western suburb of Adelaide, were charged with criminal neglect and deception offences on Friday and appeared before Port Adelaide Magistrates Court.

Police allege the pair raised $60,000 between November 18 and December 12 after falsely portraying their six-year-old son had ‘stage one eye cancer’.

The couple allegedly shaved their son’s head and eyebrows, bandaged his head to look like he was receiving radiation treatment and made him travel in a wheelchair. 

Ms Bodzar’s lawyer said she ‘strongly contested’ the allegations while Mr Miller’s lawyer said he also denied them. 

The deputy principal and the AP learning and wellbeing officer at their son’s school wrote a letter to other parents insisting that the ‘care and wellbeing of our students is always our top priority’.

‘We want to assure you that we are taking this matter very seriously and are working closely with SAPOL and those directly impacted by the situation,’ the Adelaide Advertiser reported.

The couple allegedly shaved their son’s head and eyebrows, bandaged his head to look like he was receiving radiation treatment and made him travel in a wheelchair

‘The police are currently seeking any individuals who may have information related to the investigation or who believe they have contributed financially to the family involved.

‘If you have any relevant information, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or visit your nearest police station.’

Contact details for a child helpline were also provided in case parents need support for their children after the incident.

The letter also confirmed ‘the school has not endorsed or participated in any fundraising activities’ in relation to the alleged cancer scam.

Bodzar and Miller, both 44, fronted Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday via video-link from their adjacent police cells.

When police prosecutors expressed concerns at the hearing that Ms Bodzar might interfere with the investigation by attempting to access her bank or social media accounts, she audibly scoffed, as reported by The Advertiser.

Miller, a former truck driver who switched to an office job after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, asked that he receive home detention bail with his parents in Adelaide’s north and not have contact with his wife or two children. 

Magistrate Alison Adair said she would consider the request based on the result of a home detention bail inquiry report to be completed next week. 

Police allege the pair, from Adelaide’s western suburbs, raised $60,000 in two weeks for the six-year-old’s ongoing ‘cancer treatments’ before they were arrested. Pictured is the fundraising page which included a photo of their six-year-old son

‘Having read the allegations, it appears that this defendant is less involved than the other defendant in this offending,’ she said.

Both the boy and his sister, who is aged between six and 12-years-old, have been removed from their parents’ care and are living with a relative.

Miller’s case was adjourned until December 20 and Bodzsar will return to court on January 6.