Woman arrested after admitting she lied about having cancer for money

RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) -- A Randolph County woman was arrested Thursday after admitting that she lied about having cancer to help pay for her medical bills, according to the sheriff's office.

Amy Ellissa Hammer, 30, of Seagrove, faces a true bill indictment for felony attempt to obtain property by false pretense and three counts of felony obtaining property by false pretense. She was given a $2,000 bond.

Amy Hammer told FOX8 on March 21 that she didn't want money or attention, but claimed she had cancer to save her marriage with her husband.

"When he said he was going to leave me, it was an impulsive thing," Hammer said by phone. "We've been together so long, I was scared, terrified. That's my three kids, my husband that I've known for so long. So it was an impulsive thing and it snowballed."

The Randolph County Sheriff's Office said they began investigating fundraisers to help Hammer on March 8 after receiving reports she was obtaining property by false pretenses.

According to investigators, Hammer claimed that she had chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

"I have to deal with what I've done and that I hate myself," Hammer said. "But I am sorry, I have to live with this. What I have done has hurt a lot of people, a lot."