Massachusetts Woman Accused of Faking Her Own Death to Avoid Charges

BROCKTON (WBSM) — A Plymouth woman was arraigned today on charges she faked her own death to avoid prosecution.

Plymouth Woman Accused of Faking Death to Avoid Charges

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced that Shannon Wilson, 44, is charged with two counts of furnishing false identifying information and one count each of obstruction of justice, forgery, uttering a false or forged public record, and failure to appear after release on bail.

Wilson pleaded not guilty and was held on $50,000 cash bail. She is next scheduled for a pretrial hearing on May 19 in Brockton Superior Court.

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Claims of Terminal Illness Presented in Court

Between 2022 and 2023, Wilson had multiple criminal matters pending in Massachusetts District Courts. However, it is alleged that both through her own statements and through her defense attorneys, Wilson claimed to be suffering from terminal cancer, was undergoing treatment, had entered hospice care, and ultimately had died.

On August 15, 2022, Wilson was arraigned in Hingham District Court following a traffic stop. Her defense attorney informed the court that Wilson was terminally ill and had a limited life expectancy. An acquaintance posted her $400 bail, and Wilson was released with conditions.

However, she allegedly did not adhere to those conditions and failed to appear in court as ordered. The Commonwealth sought to revoke her bail, but Wilson said she had been hospitalized. The court did not revoke her bail but told her that medical issues did not excuse her from communication or complying with court orders.

Fake Medical Documents Allegedly Submitted

On September 12, 2022, Wilson appeared in Plymouth District Court on unrelated charges and again told the court she suffered from terminal brain cancer. In January 2023, her lawyer presented a letter purportedly from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute indicating her terminal illness and hospice care. That led to the court dismissing the Plymouth case, but the D.A.’s Office said that “subsequent investigation determined Wilson was not a patient at Dana-Farber.”

Fake Medical Documents Allegedly Submitted

In May 2023, the defense counsel claimed they had received messages that Wilson had died, and later provided a screen-captured image of a death certificate.

“Although no certified copy was filed, the court dismissed the matter and waived all associated fees. The document listed terminal brain cancer as the cause of death, named a Rhode Island physician as certifier, and identified a Boston funeral home,” the D.A.’s Office said. “Further investigation established that no death certificate was registered in Massachusetts or Rhode Island and that no hospice, palliative care, or funeral services had been provided for Wilson.”

Arrest Follows Months of Alleged Deception

In August 2023, the acquaintance that had posted the $400 bail for Wilson in August 2022 was able to recover the money after being informed Wilson had died. However, Wilson unexpectedly appeared at the person’s residence several weeks later, and allegedly admitted to fabricating her death.

Wilson was then arrested by Massachusetts State Police in Wareham following a traffic stop for erratic driving. She allegedly gave a false name, claimed to be visiting from Ireland, denied her true identity, and again claimed to be terminally ill. She was found in possession of items bearing her true name and was placed under arrest.