Friday, August 26, 2011

Couple Busted In Fraudulent Adoption Scheme Tied To Joplin Tornado:




Lisa Joan Wing said she lost everything in May tornado


A couple who said the were victims of the deadly tornado that ripped through Joplin in May are facing charges of felony stealing and forgery in an alleged fraudulent adoption scheme.

On August 24th the Joplin Police Department was notified that Lisa Joan Wing, 29, and Lonnie L. Riddell, 30, had provided false documents to a Baltimore, Maryland couple that was supposed to adopt the couples baby and the adoption agency involved.  The couple from Maryland had given Wing and Riddell almost $3,000 to help with rent payments, cell phone bills, food and clothing.

During the investigation it was learned that Wing and Riddell , who had also made arrangements with another couple from Arkansas for $10,000 in exchange for the baby, traveled from Tulsa, Oklahoma after the May 22nd tornado and claimed they were victims of the disaster and sought help from the community in an interview with KSPR news in Sprngfield.

Wing is being held in the Joplin city jail on $7,500 bond - charges are pending against Riddell.

The baby is now in protective custody of DFS.

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