Boyd had faked the death of her daughter and arranged an entire funeral as part of the ruse to get money. She even came up with the story that the 15-year-old girl had been brutally raped and murdered by her father in Iowa. She then passed around the collection plate at the New Life Ministries Church of the Nazarene.
After her brother announced the girl was alive and well in Iowa, Boyd fled the church and later turned herself in to the police.
Her brother, Brian LeMaster, said the ruse was to support a drug habit. She is charged with attempted theft and could face six months to three years in jail. She could also face a defamation action from the father since this would constitute slander per se (imputation of a criminal act). That is of course doubtful given her financial and legal position.
This is an example of why some of us are critical of the Stolen Valor Act (here). When people fake such facts for personal gain, they can be charged with simple fraud (here).
Source: Pal-Item
Jonathan Turley