Couple Told Age 13 Boy He Had Terminal Brain Cancer for Despicable Reason

Most parents try to protect their children from fear, sadness, or pain. For most parents, the thought of their child suffering is a nightmare.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for two Florida parents. These two not only failed to protect their son from suffering, they were the cause of it.

Eight months ago, Robert and Ginny Long told their 13-year-old son some tragic news. They informed him he had terminal brain cancer.

Their son then spent the next several months believing his life was ending.

TRENDING: McConnell Out? Insiders Drop Bomb, May Not Finish Out Term: Report

The poor child was afraid constantly, even telling friends and teachers that he was not going to live much longer.

A school resource officer became alarmed when the Longs began fundraising. The family began selling t-shirts, and fundraisers, including a GoFundMe page, were organized.

They sold nine t-shirts and “raised” almost $1,000. Suspicious, the officer alerted authorities, who began investigating. What they found was alarming.

When investigators reached out to the boy, ABC News reports, “he said that he had cancer but did not like to talk about it.”

He then “put his head down and state[d] it did make him scared sometimes.”

According to ABC News, the boy’s mother told investigators that a doctor had informed her that her son had “seven brain tumors.”

Furthermore, she said, “if the victim were to receive surgery then he would turn out to be a ‘vegetable’ so she opted out of the victim having surgery.”

Authorities, however, never found any medical reports indicating the boy was ever truly diagnosed with cancer.

RELATED: Pregnant Mom Posted on Facebook About Itchy Skin and It May Have Saved Her Baby's Life

They believe the Longs told their son he had terminal cancer in an effort to dupe people into giving them money.

Now, the boy’s parents have been charged with one count of child abuse and nine counts of fraud.

Meanwhile, the victim and his sibling have been removed from the home and placed into foster care.

Sadly, this couple’s greed not only landed them in trouble, it also irrevocably hurt their child. Thankfully, this young boy does not have terminal cancer — just two lousy parents.

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.