Ontario mother of 10 says she received only C$6,300 from a C$19,000 GoFundMe set up by her sister; police later charged the family member with fraud over C$5,000
An Ontario mother of 10 who was seriously injured while helping stranded motorists says she received only about C$6,300 from a GoFundMe campaign that raised roughly C$19,000 for her recovery and family. Maryanne Mullett said in an update on her GoFundMe page that her sister, who organised the original fundraiser, received the donations but most of the money did not reach her. Durham Regional Police later confirmed that a family member had been charged with fraud over C$5,000. The allegations have not been proven in court. Mullett’s case has since highlighted concerns about how crowdfunding campaigns are organised and who controls the funds raised for people in need.
Mother was injured while helping stranded motorists
Mullett’s ordeal began on January 1, 2026, when she stopped to help people whose vehicle had become stranded near Beaverton, Ontario. According to her account and previous reporting by CityNews, she was trying to help the occupants when another vehicle struck her. She suffered serious injuries and spent months in the hospital recovering.Mullett is a mother of 10 and also runs an Indigenous food business. Her injuries left her unable to work, creating financial difficulties for her household while she underwent treatment and rehabilitation. A family member subsequently created a GoFundMe campaign to help Mullett and her children manage expenses while she recovered. The fundraiser attracted thousands of dollars in donations.
Mullett says most of the money did not reach her
The dispute centred on who controlled the original fundraising account. In an update posted on her current GoFundMe page, Mullett said the campaign received C$19,700, but she received only about C$6,300. She said she had initially wanted the fundraiser to be set up in her own name or her mother’s name. According to Mullett, her sister instead told her that the campaign needed to be placed in the sister’s name and that banking information was required.Mullett later questioned where the remaining money had gone. She said her sister told her that some of the funds had been used to purchase food and supplies for the children. Mullett disputed that explanation, saying she had separately transferred money for food and supplies and that the family had also received gift cards for those expenses. She asked for receipts or other information showing how the money had been spent but did not receive an explanation that accounted for the missing amount.
Police later confirmed a fraud charge
The dispute eventually became a police matter. In April, Durham Regional Police said the allegations were under investigation, but no arrest had yet been made at that stage. By August, however, Durham Regional Police confirmed that an accused had been charged with fraud over C$5,000 in connection with the investigation, according to InnisfilToday. Mullett identified the accused as her sister, who she says organised the original fundraiser. Police did not provide further details because the investigation remained active.The charge is an allegation, and the accused has not been found guilty in court. Mullett described the situation as particularly painful because of the family relationship. In an interview with InnisfilToday after returning home following more than seven months in the hospital, she said she never expected her sister to be involved in the dispute.
New fundraiser is now controlled by Mullett
After the original campaign was deactivated, Mullett’s supporters encouraged her to establish another fundraiser. The current GoFundMe page is organised by Mullett herself and states that she is the person managing the campaign. The current campaign aims to help her family cope with expenses linked to her recovery. The page says she returned home after months in the hospital but continues to face mobility problems, medical expenses and accessibility needs at home.Mullett has also said that she has been unable to return to her Indigenous food business because of her injuries. Her current fundraiser says money is needed for household expenses, medical needs, home modifications and other costs while she continues her recovery. As of the latest version of the GoFundMe page, the new campaign had raised more than C$26,000 towards a C$40,000 goal.
The case raises questions about crowdfunding
Mullett’s experience also became part of a wider discussion about safeguards around online fundraising. CityNews reported in July that police and charity experts were warning donors to verify crowdfunding campaigns before contributing. The report cited Mullett’s case alongside a separate Calgary fundraiser that police said was not authorised by the family it claimed to support. Charity lawyer Mark Blumberg told CityNews that people organising crowdfunding campaigns should establish clear arrangements for how donations will be handled. He also advised donors to check the relationship between the organiser and intended recipient and determine who controls withdrawals from the account.For Mullett, the experience has added another challenge to an already difficult recovery. After surviving the January crash and spending months in the hospital, she is now rebuilding her life while dealing with the financial consequences of being unable to work. Her case illustrates why donors and beneficiaries may want to establish clearly who controls a fundraiser, how the money will reach its intended recipient and how donations will be accounted for, particularly when a campaign is organised by someone other than the person receiving the funds.
