Politics
New York Attorney General Seeks Return of $71,539 from Relatives Who Raised $100,000 for Teenager After Family Fire
A New York teenager who lost her father and four sisters in a house fire on February 14, 2019, became the focus of a legal dispute months later. The family’s relatives had raised more than $100,000 to support the 13‑year‑old, but the New York Attorney General’s office alleged that most of the money had not been transferred to her or her mother, Melissa Davey. In October 2019, then‑Attorney General Letitia James filed a petition in New York State Supreme Court seeking the return of $71,539.29, claiming the funds had been improperly spent and that investigators had been misled. The petition stated that the relatives had failed to comply with state requirements governing charitable donations and had not provided a full accounting despite repeated requests. The lawsuit also accused Kenneth Bodah Jr., Beth Ann Bodah and Travis Bodah of failing to turn over the donations, of making false statements to investigators, and of fraud. The case arose after a GoFundMe campaign organized for Kenneth Bodah raised $25,680 from 523 donors, and additional community fundraisers and a memorial fund contributed to the total. A cashier’s check for $35,021.61 was delivered to Hailey on September 20, 2019, but bank records showed $97,199.29 had been deposited into a Bodah Family Memorial Fund between February 19 and September 23, 2019. The state alleged that a substantial portion of the money remained unaccounted for or had been spent on items such as purchases from Lowe’s, an online home furnishings retailer, a church, and a monument company. The Attorney General’s office sought the transfer of the remaining $71,539.29 to Hailey through her mother and legal guardian, along with penalties and a full accounting of the funds raised. The case highlights the scrutiny that can arise when donations are collected for a named individual after a tragedy, especially when relatives or organizers control the funds before they reach the intended beneficiary.