DA: Plymouth woman found alive by police after allegedly faking having terminal cancer, her own death, to beat charges

Brockton – Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz announced today that a Plymouth woman has been indicted on multiple charges after allegedly engaging in a prolonged course of conduct involving false identifying information, fabricated medical claims, and a falsified death certificate to interfere with court proceedings.

Shannon E. Wilson, 44, was indicted by a Plymouth County grand jury on one count each of furnishing false identifying information, obstruction of justice, forgery, uttering a public record, and failure to appear after release on bail.

According to the indictments, between 2022 and 2023, Wilson had multiple criminal matters pending in Massachusetts District Courts. During those proceedings, Wilson allegedly represented—both personally and through defense counsel—that she was suffering from terminal cancer, undergoing treatment, entering hospice care, and ultimately had died.

On August 15, 2022, Wilson was arraigned in Hingham District Court following a traffic stop. Defense counsel informed the court that Wilson was terminally ill and had a limited life expectancy. An acquaintance posted $400 bail on Wilson’s behalf, and she was released subject to conditions.

In the months that followed, Wilson failed to comply with conditions of release and failed to appear as ordered. When the Commonwealth sought bail revocation, Wilson asserted she had been hospitalized. The court denied revocation but instructed Wilson that medical issues did not excuse failure to communicate or comply with court orders.

On September 12, 2022, Wilson appeared in Plymouth District Court on unrelated charges and again represented to the court that she suffered from terminal brain cancer. In January 2023, defense counsel presented a letter purportedly from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute indicating terminal illness and hospice care. Relying on those representations, the court dismissed the Plymouth case. Subsequent investigation determined Wilson was not a patient at Dana-Farber.

In May 2023, defense counsel reported receiving 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.

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.

In August 2023, the acquaintance who had posted bail recovered the $400 after being informed Wilson was deceased. Several weeks later, Wilson unexpectedly appeared at the acquaintance’s residence and admitted she had fabricated her death.

On July 15, 2023, Wilson was arrested by Massachusetts State Police in Wareham following a traffic stop for erratic driving. She identified herself under an assumed name, claimed to be visiting from Ireland, denied her true identity, and again asserted she was terminally ill. She was found in possession of items bearing her true name and was placed under arrest.

The indictments allege that at critical stages of court proceedings—including arraignments, bail determinations, continuances, dismissals, and return of bail—Wilson knowingly made false representations that she was terminally ill or deceased, and that courts relied on those representations in taking judicial action.

Assistant District Attorney Alexander Zane is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.

Wilson is currently being held and will be arraigned at a later date.