Canadians Suckered By Woman’s Tale Of Cancer, Purse Snatching

It was a heartbreaking tale that moved Canadians nationwide: a young, single mother, dying of cancer, victimized by a purse snatcher. On Thursday, after a week-long outpouring of generosity, it turned out the public had been hoaxed.

Toronto police, whose poignant account of the woman’s story prompted Canadians to send her $83,000 in gifts, announced that Donna Mercier, 27, had been taken into custody on a charge of public mischief.

The arrest followed news media disclosures over the past two days that begun to eat away at what had seemed to be one of the most heartwarming stories in Canada this year.

It turned out Mercier did not have cancer.

Then the Toronto Star reported that Mercier has been convicted of public mischief in 1987 after claiming she had been raped by two men. She later admitted she lied and pleaded guilty to the mischief charge.

On Wednesday, police froze the bank account set up for the woman and stepped up an investigation into her claims.

Mercier became the object of national attention April 4 when police reported a purse snatching from a cancer-stricken single mother.

Police said she had lost money, identification and a bus ticket for her son so he could be with relatives after her death.

Police said the woman never asked for help or money, and had to be persuaded to let them go public with the story of the theft in hopes publicity would lead to recovery of her purse.