Couple Told Boy He Had Brain Cancer; Collected Donations: Cops

FORT WALTON BEACH, FL — A Florida couple is facing charges after authorities say they convinced a 13-year-old boy in their care he was dying from brain cancer and allegedly collected donations for what they said was the child's medical expenses.

"The 13 year old has spent the last eight months believing he is going to die from brain cancer, but the OCSO’s investigation revealed his medical records prove no brain tumors exist," the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

The couple, Robert Edward Long, 47, and Ginny Irovando Long, 34, have been charged with one count of child abuse and nine counts of fraud.

Police said their investigation revealed that the couple set up a t-shirt fundraiser for the boy at his school last year and allegedly shared the news about the cancer diagnosis on their Facebook pages. Irovando wrote in a post Dec. 28 that it was a miracle the boy had lived three days past Christmas, police say. The child appeared healthy in the photo, police said.

Irovando told investigators the boy had seven brain tumors and that if he had surgery, he might turn out to be a “vegetable,” according to her arrest report, which was obtained by the Northwest Florida Daily News.

The child told investigators Irovando told him he was going to die from brain cancer in May 2017, according to police. The child also said it scared him and he didn't like to talk about it. Police say the child said the couple also started a GoFundMe account on his behalf.

The sheriff's office began investigating after a school resource officer became suspicious.

The couple was taken into custody on Thursday.

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