Harris County investigators say a Florida woman turned a Houston family’s tragedy into a payday, allegedly hijacking the identity of 18-year-old flood victim and Camp Mystic counselor Chloe Childress to run bogus online fundraisers. Authorities identified the suspect as 28-year-old Maitlin Paige White, who is charged with two counts of felony online impersonation and is currently wanted.
Records reviewed by Click2Houston show that the fake campaigns were posted on GoFundMe and Spotfund on July 8, just four days after the deadly Hill Country floods. Investigators say the pages displayed White’s phone number, email, and a bank routing number that traced back to her account. Charging documents state the fundraisers used Childress’ name and photo to solicit donations, and that White allegedly admitted linking her bank account so the money would go straight to her.
Childress, a recent graduate of The Kinkaid School who was working as a counselor at Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River, was among those killed when flash floods tore through camps and riverside areas that weekend, a tragedy detailed in coverage headlined floodwaters claim life of Camp Mystic counselor. Wider reporting by The Texas Tribune notes that the July Hill Country floods killed more than 100 people and triggered a wave of fraud warnings as shocked communities and donors rushed to help.
Investigators Say Scam Pages Were Shut Down Quickly
Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen told reporters the bogus fundraisers only stayed live long enough to pull in a small number of donations before platforms took them down and investigators began tracking who set them up. FOX26 reported that the pages collected about $1,500 in early donations, which investigators say were refunded after GoFundMe and Spotfund removed the campaigns.
Charges And Legal Details
Harris County Precinct 1 investigators have charged White with two counts of felony online impersonation, and prosecutors described her alleged conduct as “despicable” in a bond filing that asked the court to consider her a danger to the community, according to Click2Houston. Charging records also state that White told investigators she is a single mother of two who was “looking for a quick way to make some money,” and that she admitted linking her bank account to the fraudulent fundraising pages.
What Officials Are Asking Of The Public
Investigators are asking anyone who knows where White might be to contact the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office at 713-755-5200. Authorities and fundraising platforms are also reminding donors to vet online campaigns carefully, look for verified charity hubs and report anything that seems off. GoFundMe, for its part, maintains a centralized Texas floods hub and fraud-reporting tools for people who want to support legitimate relief efforts without getting burned.
