Emily J. Creno, 31, faked a cancer diagnosis for her 4-year-old son and shaved his head in a scheme that convinced him and others he was dying and bilked people out of donations, authorities said. (AP Photo/Licking County Sheriff's Office via The Newark Advocate)
NEWARK, Ohio – A central Ohio woman accused of faking a cancer diagnosis for her 4-year-old son is pursuing an insanity plea on a child endangerment charge.
Authorities allege 31-year-old Emily Creno, of Utica, shaved her son's head in a scheme that bilked people out of donations and convinced him and others he was dying.
Creno's attorney wants a competency evaluation for her and has filed a motion seeking to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. He argues Creno has a history of mental illness and didn't know her actions were criminal.
A prosecutor tells The Columbus Dispatch he thinks Creno tried to cover up lies with some of her actions.
Creno was arrested this month. Her next hearing in a Licking County court is scheduled for Oct. 31.
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