Melanie Chen, 29, failed to appear in a Delaware County court to answer charges she and her husband faked that he had cancer in order to get donations from sympathetic people, 10TV's Kevin Landers reported.

Delaware County Prosecutor Dave Yost told 10TV News Chen and her husband, Phylip Chen, 38, were out of work and needed cash.

"The two of them - husband and wife - claimed that the husband was dying of cancer and that they didn't have any money," Yost said.

Both were charged with theft and receiving stolen property. Phylip Chen pleaded not guilty and was placed on house arrest, but Melanie Chen did not show up at the hearing.

A warrant has been issued for Melanie Chen's arrest.

Over a three-year period, the couple is alleged to have scammed $800,000, primarily from Taiwanese friends, family and others, Yost said. Some of the solicitations were made by Phylip Chen's parents, who have not been charged in the case.

A couple who gave money to the family told 10TV News they never met Melanie and Phylip Chen but did meet his parents at a prayer service, where the parents discussed Melanie and Phylip's financial problems. The donors, who did not want to be identified, said the parents mentioned that their son had cancer and that the son and his wife had been victims of identity theft.

Yost said the scam began to unravel when donors questioned the husband's health because he did not appear to be ill despite supposedly having cancer for several years. When Phylip Chen did not turn over medical records, the donors went to authorities.

Yost told 10TV News he hopes this case will not discourage people from helping those truly in need.

"Please don't close your heart to people in need because of one callous criminal who ripped people off," Yost said.

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