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Patia Eaton
This is exactly right.
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Hannah Smith
contains adult content and language. Listener discretion is advised.
Patia Eaton
The claims and opinions in this podcast are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the knife or exactly right media.
Dee Lynn
And they dance together. People are crying, you know, because everyone knows she's got cancer and I mean, she's acting like her husband has to hold her up.
Hannah Smith
Welcome to the Knife. I'm Hannah Smith.
Patia Eaton
I'm Patia Eaton. In 2020, after a tragedy shook her Ohio community, D Lynn attended a local fundraiser to show her support. At the fundraiser, Dee met Lisa Titkmeyer, a wife, mother of two and Devoted community volunteer. The two quickly became friends and soon began volunteering together.
Hannah Smith
Then tragedy seemed to strike again. Lisa announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer. As friends, neighbors and strangers rallied around her, Dee stepped up to help as well, organizing fundraisers and raising thousands of dollars for Lisa's career.
Patia Eaton
But as time went on, small inconsistencies began to emerge. Dee found herself questioning things she once accepted without hesitation. The more she tried to make sense of Lisa's story, the more tangled it all became.
Hannah Smith
Before long, Dee was no longer just supporting a friend. She was caught in a controversy that divided her community, left her doubting her own instincts, and even led to accusations against Dee.
Patia Eaton
Let's get into the interview. Dee, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us today.
Dee Lynn
Absolutely.
Patia Eaton
Would you mind telling us just a little bit about yourself and where you're from?
Dee Lynn
My name is Dorothy Lynn, but I go by Dee Lynn. I live in Toledo, Ohio. It's a very tight knit community. Everyone is very willing to help people.
Hannah Smith
Have you lived in Toledo a long time? How long have you lived there?
Dee Lynn
Pretty much my whole life.
Patia Eaton
Dee is exactly the kind of person that makes her community so tight knit. She's quick to get involved with community events and the first to volunteer to help someone who might be in need. Within just a few minutes of speaking with Dee, it's easy to feel like you've known her forever. I get the feeling Dee has a lot of stories, but this one begins in the summer of 2020 when a tragedy struck in Toledo.
Dee Lynn
July 4, 2020. It'll be a day that almost everyone in this community will never forget because that was the day that we lost Officer Anthony Dia. He had a call to check on the wellness of someone and he was trying to talk to the guy and the guy went to his car and he pulled out a weapon and he shot the weapon.
Patia Eaton
It was 12:30am when Officer Anthony Dia arrived at a hardware store parking lot to perform a wellness check on a man who seem to be intoxicated. When Officer Dia approached him, the man suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Officer Dia in the chest. Bystanders tried to help and Officer Dia was rushed to a local hospital. But he died shortly after as a result of the gunshot wound. Anthony hussein Dia was 26 years old, a highly respected officer and also a member of Toledo's Arab American and Islamic communities. He left behind his wife and their two young children.
Dee Lynn
He touched so many lives, not just in the community, but the men and women he worked with. Any of his sergeants or Lieutenants, even the chief of police, would tell you that they would have a whole force of Anthony Diaz, because he was that good an officer. He cared. He wanted to be part of the change. He wanted to be the one to make the change in Toledo to bring people together and care about people and stop the crime and, you know, just be human.
Patia Eaton
But there was something else that made his death stand out, not just in Toledo, but internationally. As he lay dying in the parking lot, Officer Dia sent a radio transmission with his final words, tell my family I love them.
Dee Lynn
And there is a song that was written for him, and it's nationally on the radio stations, on country radio stations. It's called Tell my family I love him because those were his last words. It was just unbelievable to see how the community reacted just that night, coming together, hearing that radio transmission on the news. It was just heartbreaking. And everyone started taking flowers up there, paying their respects.
Patia Eaton
How did people come together to then support his fellow officers and his family members?
Dee Lynn
Oh, we started doing rallies in support of the whole department, of all first responders, not just police. And for his family, oh, my gosh, there was so many people to reach out, you know, wanting to know what they can do.
Hannah Smith
I wonder if his death would have garnered as much attention in the community had it not been that period of time, because I imagine police officers had been shot previously in the line of duty in Toledo. But it was such a heightened time in our country. I mean, I think myself and many people were so horrified by the death of George Floyd and the videos, and there was a, in my opinion, rightful anger toward some of the mistreatment that we'd seen run rampant. But then I also know that there were many people in law enforcement and first responders who felt very attacked by that movement and many communities who felt attacked. And so I'm curious if you think that because of the national environment at the time, that there was even more of a response to his death. And maybe there would have been if it had happened in 2017, maybe not. But I'm just curious to what your thoughts on that are.
Dee Lynn
I think there still would have been a huge response just because here people who had, we'll say, run ins with Anthony, he got called to their home for whatever, or he was at an accident scene, or they got pulled over. I mean, so many people came forward saying, oh, my God, you know, he was amazing. This went on, you know, whatever the situation was for them, I think the Anthony one, I think no matter what he was doing in his life at that Time to hear those words. Tell my family I love him. I think his death would have made an impact on this community.
Patia Eaton
We all remember the summer of 2020. Many of us were in lockdown due to the pandemic. And then came the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. Millions of people across America filled the streets of their cities and small towns. Protesters wanted police reform to end police brutality, to defund police departments. It was a reckoning of an inherently racist system. But pretty quickly there was also a counter movement, a fierce show of support for police. Anthony Dia's death was an indisputable tragedy and emotions were already running high. It seemed like all of Toledo wanted to show their support for law enforcement and for Anthonidia's family. A whole community mobilized. One local fundraiser in particular made headlines. A seven year old boy had set up a lemonade stand and raised nearly $2,000 for Anthony Diaz family. His mother, Lisa Titkomire, proudly helped him serve the lines of people waiting to donate. Dee remembers it well, but everything is not always as it seems. And where most saw a generous and trusting community, someone else saw an opportunity.
Dee Lynn
Lisa Tickemeyer's son started a lemonade stand in honor of Anthony to raise money for the family. Cars were lined up all the way down her street just to get a cup of lemonade. But I mean, people were given lots of money for this cup of lemonade. It wasn't like a quarter for a lemonade. It was just really amazing to see a child out there doing it. You know, we're all like, wow, these parents are raising this young man really well for him to want to do this. I just thought, you know, this kid could be out playing with his friends. It's summertime and here he's standing there in the heat selling lemonade to raise money to give the money to another person's family that lost their loved one. I don't know if you ever watched the show Little House on the Prairie. That's what the family reminded me of because they were all so loving and caring and, you know, and I was like, oh, it's like the Little House on the Prairie or, you know, pretty quickly.
Patia Eaton
Lisa Titkomire and her family became a known entity in Toledo for their philanthropy. A local radio station called them pillars of the community. And then In January of 2021, another police officer, Brandon Stalker, was killed in the line of duty. Lisa put together a hot cocoa stand to raise money for his family and devolunteered. The two quickly struck up a friendship and then Lisa wanted to throw yet another fundraiser in March of 2021. And once again, Dee stepped in to help.
Dee Lynn
And we did hot cocoa and dogs that March. It's so crazy, because that short period of time of getting to know her, she shows up for the cocoa and dogs, and she tells me she has cancer. And I'm like, oh, my God, what are you doing here? Go home and be with your family. She's like, nope, I talk to them. And we rather do this to keep our minds busy and not think about it. I'm like, okay, you know, who am I to argue with her? You know? So I'm like, trying to do everything I can for trying to get her just to relax, you know, sit down, whatever. You just told me you have cancer. That's huge.
Patia Eaton
Do you recall any details about what Lisa told you about her cancer diagnosis, if any, at the time? It sounds like your friendship was very new. And she discloses that she has cancer. Does she tell you what kind or any sort of prognosis?
Dee Lynn
Not at that point in time. She told me she just got diagnosed. She did tell me that. That's how she said it. I just got diagnosed with cancer.
Hannah Smith
Do you remember if there was anyone else around? Like, were her parents there to hear that or was it just a moment of just you and her?
Dee Lynn
Just me and her. She pulled me aside and said, I gotta talk to you. And I'm like, okay. And I thought, this is weird, you know, because we're not that close.
Hannah Smith
Okay. Because I was just curious if she told a lot of people at that event or just you, and you don't know at that point. Who knows what? Like, who knows that she's sick and who doesn't know? And it's not something that you're going around talking about, right?
Dee Lynn
I mean, I don't know if she told other people that.
Patia Eaton
Dee immediately began organizing a fundraiser for Lisa and her family. She knew that going through cancer treatment would be difficult and expensive, even with insurance, and she wanted to offer Lisa's family some financial help, especially with everything that Lisa had done for her community. Dee called up Tony Dia, the father of fallen officer Anthony Dia, who had founded a nonprofit in his son's name. Dee had become close to Tony and often volunteered for his nonprofit. She asked Tony if he'd like to partner with her to throw Lisa a fund raiser. And what is Toni's response to that?
Dee Lynn
Absolutely. Whatever you want to do, we're going to do it. Dee, we gotta help her out. That's horrible. And I'M like, I just can't imagine telling my young children I have cancer. I just can't imagine that. The following week, she went to the doctor. Oh, they got to start treatment right away. It was non Hodgkin's lymphoma. It's not good. And all of a sudden, you know, she's doing treatment and, oh, I'm so sick. It was like, it went from, you look healthy to, oh, my God, she's, like, deathly sick now. She would tell me she was up all night, throwing up. Thank God for her husband. He's rubbing her head, all this stuff. It was always, I'm sick at night, in the middle of the night. She was sick. Not around me, not during the day, because she started coming over to my house, hanging out, sitting in my massage chair, and I was fine with it. You know, you're sick, Go ahead. You know, I'm good with that.
Patia Eaton
Lisa told Dee she had cancer in March of 2021. And quickly after, their lives became intertwined. Lisa would call Dee regularly and update her on her cancer journey, confiding in Dee about how her appointments were going. Dee frequently checked in on Lisa and also checked in on Lisa's husband and their two boys. Over the next few months into the summer, the community once again rose to the occasion, setting up fundraisers and meal trains, all to support Lisa and her family through the scary and difficult time.
Dee Lynn
All these people are helping her, raising money for her at the school. Her husband was a soccer coach, so the soccer team and the soccer moms all wanted to do something. The radio station, K100 iHeartradio, they all wanted, oh, we gotta do something for this woman. Oh, my God, honey. There were so many people that would drop off food or gift cards to get food. I remember being at her house one day because a friend of mine had did meal preps for, you know, for like, lunches, because it was summertime. So she did some lunches for. And I took them to her, and I'm like, oh, my God, Lisa, you got to tell people to quit bringing you food. I mean, the refrigerator was packed. They had one in the basement. It was packed. I'm like, this food's going to go to waste. There's too many people hurting right now to let this food go to waste. You got to tell people to stop. Oh, no. You don't know how Ryan eats. This food will be gone in no time. I'm like, lisa, this is a lot. Plus, you got gift cards. Just take a little break from it. But she didn't want to.
Patia Eaton
These interactions with Lisa at her home, where you're seeing physically how much food is in the fridge and that she has no more room. What does she look like? What is her sort of energy level seemingly look like in that moment?
Dee Lynn
It seemed fine. I mean, she would sit there and say she's tired, but she would continue to go, go, go. Then she showed up one day and said she went to go get her hair done and they had to just cut it all off because her hair was falling off. That bad.
Patia Eaton
Does Tony Dia end up holding a fundraiser to raise money for Lisa?
Dee Lynn
Yes, we did do a fundraiser. It was at my friend's bar. It was packed.
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Patia Eaton
Dee knows how to organize people and throw a great fundraiser, and this one was no exception. After the event, Dee and her volunteers counted all of the money that had been raised. They Carefully marked each envelope with the amount of money inside and then put all of the envelopes into a lockbox. Dee has a very specific system for how she handles money during these fundraisers. But afterward, Lisa reached out and asked if Dee could deliver all of the money that had been raised that night to her at her home immediately. Dee thought this was strange. Why did Lisa need all of the money right now at 10pm? But she agreed and drove it over to Lisa's. Part of Dee's system included, then recounting all of the money in all of the envelopes as she handed it over to the organization, or in this case, the person who she was raising money for. This is how she's always done it. Dee's credibility is very important to her. She has always taken seriously the responsibility of encouraging people to donate their hard earned money. She knows that transparency is everything.
Dee Lynn
After all said and done, we count all the money. Everyone would verify each envelope had what was written on that envelope, and then we would distribute it after her event. I took it to Lisa's house. No one touched it. It was in the back of my Jeep. Took it there, and right away her husband's like, ripping open the envelopes. I'm like, whoa, stop. We need to open individually and count the money and verify that what's written on the envelope is what's in the envelope. So that's what we did.
Patia Eaton
How much money did you raise for Lisa?
Dee Lynn
I can't remember the exact total. I have it written down. It was a lot.
Patia Eaton
Can you give me a ballpark?
Dee Lynn
I'm gonna say just from that fundraiser was like 7,000. Just that fundraiser.
Patia Eaton
So you're bringing a lot of cash. Yeah, like actual cash to her home.
Dee Lynn
And that's not counting the money or checks that people personally gave them at the fundraiser because they were there at the fundraiser. Lisa and her husband, the dj, actually played a song, Last Dance, and they danced together. People are crying, you know, because everyone knows she's got cancer. And I mean, she's acting like her husband has to hold her up.
Patia Eaton
So Lisa and her husband at this fundraiser, during this, you know, dance where everyone's feeling really emotional watching them dance, Lisa's husband is having to really hold her up in that moment physically, because she appears very weak from her cancer treatments.
Dee Lynn
Yeah.
Patia Eaton
And so when you get to their house that night, what does she seem like then?
Dee Lynn
Fine. I mean, she acted like she was tired, but I was tired too. But nothing like it was there in the public eye, you know what I'm saying? And I Mean, I wasn't there right away after the event because we had to clean up, but she wanted the money over there that night. And I'm like, okay, okay. So we did that.
Patia Eaton
Dee couldn't figure out why Lisa needed this money so urgently. Dee had thrown lots of fundraisers and never encountered this. She wondered if maybe Lisa just didn't trust her. But like Dee explained, she has a pretty robust system of checks and balances to make sure all of the money makes it to the place or person that people are donating to. So it bothered Dee that Lisa was acting this way. Lisa had told multiple people that her insurance wasn't covering most of her treatment costs. But even so, Dee got a funny feeling. It seemed unusual that Lisa would need to pay a medical bill at 11pm
Dee Lynn
and I'm like, lisa, I'm already in bed. I told you I was coming home and going to bed. She wanted me to get out of bed for her to come here. She just wanted that money. I was at work, and she's like, when you gonna be home from work? And I'm like, when I get off work. And she knew I worked a lot of hours. So she finally came here and got the money after I was off work, and I'm like, oh, my God, calm down.
Patia Eaton
This was now a few months into Lisa's cancer treatments, and Dee couldn't help but start to feel a little suspic. Lisa's behavior was odd, for one, when she saw Lisa in public, Lisa would act very sick, like at the fundraiser when she danced with her husband, but he had to physically hold her up because she was so weak. But then later, at Lisa's house, Lisa was walking just fine. Lisa often told Dee how sick she felt, but Dee realized that Lisa still never seemed sick. When it was just Dee and Lisa, Lisa felt fine. It was only when they were in public and other people were watching that Lisa seemed to be unwell. It was also strange the way that Lisa was so eager to get her hands on the money from these multiple fundraisers. Dee also suspected that Lisa actually hadn't lost any hair before going to the salon and having it shaved off. But who wants to accuse someone of lying about having cancer? What if you're wrong? Dee kept going back and forth, thinking things are not adding up, but then wondering if she was imagining things and she'd feel bad for even thinking about it. Finally, Dee confided in one person, her neighbor and friend, Barbara or Barb. Barb and Dee had gone in together a few months back and purchased a Variety of wigs for Lisa. And Barb also happened to be a retired police officer. What did you say?
Dee Lynn
I said, I'm just having a lot of doubts because it was that following winter of 21, I had ran into someone that would help with events and that. And they were like, why? I thought, lisa's sick with cancer. And I'm like, she is? What are you talking about? You know? And they're like, well, how's she out? Ice skating. We saw her at Ottawa park ice skating. And I'm like, I don't know. Maybe she had a good day. I don't know what to say. Well, then I started noticing things here at my house. Misplaced, moved, missing. And I was like, what is going on? I take Adderall. And all of a sudden, I was running out of my Adderall. And I never run. I'd always have extra because some days, like the weekends, if I'm not working or not going to have to be focused, I won't take it. I started running out, and I'm like, how is that even possible?
Patia Eaton
We all have that little voice that tends to pipe up when something isn't quite right, but even when we know it's trying to tell us something, we're not always sure what. During a conversation with Lisa, Dee had mentioned that she was running out of room to store all of these decorations and the equipment that she'd collected. Hosting so many fundraisers. And not long after, Lisa had some exciting news.
Dee Lynn
She says, this was supposed to be a surprise, but I have to tell you because I don't know how to go about this. And I'm like, what? And she's like, everyone chipped in. I said, who's everyone? First you talking about who's everyone? She wouldn't tell me names. We all chipped in and we got you a shed. And I'm like, no, I don't want anyone to be chipping their money in with COVID That we just went through. Everyone's still bouncing back. I said, no, I don't want them buying me a shed. Give them their money back. Oh, you got to accept it. Everyone chipped in. And I'm like, who is everyone? They didn't want me to tell you who it was. Well, then I was like, all right, let's see where she goes with us. So she tells me the place that, you know, she ordered the shed from and it's going to be delivered. And I'm like, all right, I'll take off work. So I take off work, and there's no shot.
Patia Eaton
Do you have a job where it's easy for you to take off work?
Dee Lynn
No, I work at a factory. You don't just get easily a day off work. So there was no shut. Can't remember what the excuse was at that time, why there was no shut, but there was no shut. So I'm talking with Barb, and Barb says, well, let's go up there to the shed place and see what's going on.
Patia Eaton
Lisa told Dee she'd already ordered and paid for this shed, and for weeks, she had excuses as to why the delivery was delayed. So finally, Barb and Dee decide to just pop by this shed store, and they don't tell Lisa. They walk in pretending to shop around, but with a mission to get information.
Dee Lynn
So we go there, and we're looking around, and I'm, like, dying because Barb's, like, asking questions about all these sheds, and I'm like, what are you doing? You know? And she says to the lady, well, we just came here because Lisa Tickenmeier highly recommended you guys that you guys are wonderful, and you guys are getting the shed that the community got for someone she knows. And we're like, what? Oh, okay. And she says, yeah, Lisa's supposed to come and pay for it and hasn't. And I'm just, like, mortified. My stomach dropped, and I was sick to my stomach because I was like, this has been nothing but a lie.
Patia Eaton
Standing there in the shed store, Dee had a sinking feeling, because she now had proof Lisa had been lying to her about the shed. Lisa had told her that many people from the community donated money for this shed in order to thank Dee for her volunteer work. But according to the store, Lisa never paid for the shed. So what happened to the money? Lisa had been lying for weeks. And if Lisa could be so deceitful about this, what else might she be lying about? Dee and Barb were determined to sniff out the truth. And soon Dee came to believe that all of the missing items from her home, including her prescription Adderall pills, were being stolen. Stolen by Lisa, who had a key to her home. How did you solidify that suspicion?
Dee Lynn
Well, there was two things that went on. One, she was supposed to come and let my dog out. She did not know I took the day off work. She told me when she came here, she wasn't expecting me here. Obviously. She's like, well, I was meeting my dad here, and he's gonna do your flagpole. And I'm like, okay. Cause I did have a flagpole. I wanted Put up in the front of the house. And she's like, I didn't think you were gonna be home. And I'm like, yep, I'm here. She's like, but don't say nothing to my dad about this shed. Cause still the shed thing's going on.
Patia Eaton
Okay, so you don't tell her that this lie has been exposed?
Dee Lynn
No, did not tell her. Not at this point in time. So I was like, okay, I won't bring that up. Well, I had just got home. Just before she got here, I went and picked up my medicine at the pharmacy. Her dad shows up. We're talking about the flagpole. He goes out front to see where I'm putting it. She says she has to go to the bathroom. So she comes in the house, and it dawned on me that I left my medication on the counter and everything. And I'm like, oh, my God. And this was a Sunday, because I was getting the garbage together, put it to the road, because our garbage day is Monday. And I come in the house and my medicine's not on the counter, the bag, Nothing's there. She's like, what's wrong? And I'm like, where is my medicine? I just frigging picked it up from the pharmacy. I know I put it on the counter here. It's not here. Oh, calm down. Maybe you put it somewhere else. And I'm like, lisa, I've been outside. I've done laundry. That's it. Other than gather the garbage up and have it at the row. She goes in the basement looking in the laundry, looking in the garbage can down there. Looks in the garbage in the kitchen, Goes out to the curb where my garbage can is and dumps it and starts ripping bags open bare handed, looking for my medicine.
Patia Eaton
So this is all an act?
Dee Lynn
Well, yeah, because all of a sudden she says, I found it. And I'm like, where'd you find it? As she's right there at the street, she's like, it was in this bag of garbage. I'm like, lisa, that bag of garbage went out three days ago. That bag didn't just go out today. And I just got the medicine today. And she only had the bottles in her hand. I said, and I didn't take the bottles out of the bag. It was still in the pharmacy bag. Where's the pharmacy bag? And she couldn't answer any of it. I just totally lost it. She ended up leaving, being all mad at me.
Patia Eaton
Dee goes over to Barb's house and decides it's time to call Lisa to Tell Lisa that she knows she is lying. Lying about the shed and lying about the missing prescription. Dee's been a good friend to Lisa. She wants to know why, and she also wants to know if Lisa is lying about anything else.
Dee Lynn
I mean, she's just bawling, crying, like you would not believe. Tell me there is a shed. And I'm like, why would these people lie? Lisa, why would you tell me you found my medication in this bag of garbage when? That bag of garbage I put in there three days ago. Well, maybe I picked the wrong bag. I don't know. I was just trying to help you find your medicine. Well, then she has me feeling bad because then she's. I was trying to help you. And I'm like, oh, my God. I. Then I'm feeling bad. That's where the emotional roller coaster came in. Because she was so good, she would actually make me, like the shed people. She actually made me think they were lying to me. So then I'm feeling bad because she's making my brain all twisted. I'm like, what is going on here? I felt like I was losing it.
Patia Eaton
What is Barb doing in the moment that you're confronting Lisa over the phone at her house? At Barb's house.
Dee Lynn
I have it on speaker, and Barb is just shaking her head like, are you kidding me? And then I'm all upset when I hang up on Lisa, and I'm, like, yelling at Barb now. I feel like shit. She was only trying to help me. And Barb's like, really? Come on. So then I'm thinking, okay, yes, she's lying. Then I'm back to thinking, no, she's not. How can you do this to her? She's actually a really good person. I was just a mess.
Patia Eaton
Dee was starting to feel like she was in upside down land. Was her new friend Lisa lying to her, or was she actually sick? Dee had been helping Lisa for months, hosting and attending multiple fundraisers, paying for things out of her own pocket, giving Lisa rides to the pharmacy when she said she felt too sick to drive. Dee even made her famous taco lasagna for an event to raise money for blood cancer research. Dee also threw a birthday party for one of Lisa's sons. When Lisa said she was too sick, she just couldn't do it. Without a second thought, Dee stepped in and took over the party. She covered the cost of supplies herself because that's the kind of friend and neighbor Dee is.
Dee Lynn
I got the hamburgs, the hot dogs, the pop, all the fixings. People made cupcakes and cookies for them for their birthday. No cost to her. So many people from the community came, not just family and friends. It was supporters that came.
Patia Eaton
You know, at these events. Did Lisa seem sick?
Dee Lynn
She would portray that she was tired and it hurts to walk. I just hurt all over, that type thing. But you would catch her like getting up and moving around just fine. And then when she would see that you're watching, she'd be like, oh, oh, I gotta sit down. I gotta sit down.
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Patia Eaton
Despite Dee's growing frustration with Lisa, she developed a close relationship with Lisa's sons. So when she heard about a contest where a business owner in Texas was giving away a go kart wanting to honor someone who had given back to their community, Dee immediately thought of Lisa's son.
Dee Lynn
So I wrote the essay for Lisa's son and submitted it. Anyone?
Patia Eaton
The owner of Booyah Sports heads to town to deliver the prize to Lisa's son, who is being honored for being such a great community member. It's a big deal. There will be an awards ceremony, and Outback Steakhouse is going to sponsor a celebratory meal for them. Lisa's son is really excited. Dee coordinates everything and just lets Lisa know when to show up at Outback.
Dee Lynn
It's all covered. No one has to pay for a single meal. Outback is covering it all. Well, Lisa didn't show up. She had her dad bring her son. And Ryan calls and said, lisa's too sick. She's not feeling well. Our son will show up. Her dad's going to bring him, but we're not going to be there. Sorry. Her father came with her son and one of the son's friends. The news was there and everything did the big presentation. We all went back inside, out back because it's January. It's cold.
Patia Eaton
After the ceremony, Lisa's father and son leave with the excuse that Lisa is so sick they need to go home. They are given an outback gift card for $100 for their family to come back and enjoy a meal. When Lisa is feeling better, everyone sends their well wishes. And the man running the competition who'd driven all the way from Texas for this, says he can drop off the go kart to their home later.
Dee Lynn
We're not even done with our salads. And I can remember my exact reaction when this happened. My phone dinged, and it's a text message, and it's her husband and her telling me that we can't deliver the go karts because they are on their way to a basketball game, a professional basketball game, and we're not even done with our salads. But you're so sick, you couldn't come here and eat dinner. And this is when I get angry. I was like, she's so sick she can't come here to eat, but yet she can go to a basketball game.
Patia Eaton
So for you, this is the sort of moment where you are no longer going to accept her various stories and reasons and justifications for these discrepancies you've been experiencing. This is the moment where you're like, I'm being lied to, or something is not right.
Dee Lynn
Ruts.
Patia Eaton
Dee is now certain that Lisa is not telling the truth about her illness, about anything. And the next day, she runs into Lisa at a local hockey game. Lisa arrives looking, well, really healthy. And by Lisa's side are two people that Dee has also become close friends with, but who had mysteriously been dodging her calls. For the last couple of weeks.
Dee Lynn
They've been avoiding my phone calls, and I just thought they were busy, didn't think anything else. When I did talk to them, they seemed a little off. So they show up there, barely talk to me. She's just all smiles, carrying on like, no big deal. Nothing at all. Nothing's wrong. That just didn't happen yesterday at Outback. Nothing's wrong, Mom. Trying to keep my cool and not lose it because I know you're a scam artist now. I know this. And it was hard. And she walked up to me and acted like she was going to give me a hug. And I looked at her, and I said, I suggest you walk away from me right now. And she just. And she walked away. And they just looked at me, my two friends, and was like, what's going on? You know? And they just took off, following her. Later that evening, I get a message on Facebook, and it's her brother wanting to know if we could talk. So he calls. He's like, hey, Dee, this is Robbie, Lisa's brother. I'm like, yep. He's like, I just called to see if, you know, what's going on with Lisa. And I'm like, I lost it. Not gonna lie. I lost it. I said, what do you mean? What's going on with Lisa? You want the truth? It's probably the first time you're ever gonna hear any truth in your life. She's a damn liar, and she don't have cancer. I think it's all been a lie. And he's like, can I get my wife on the phone? Well, here I find out that they had the same doubts that she didn't have cancer, that she's a hypochondriac, and she has done this before in high school, including shaving her head. And her parents just enable her.
Patia Eaton
What does it feel like to hear this?
Dee Lynn
It was an emotional roller coaster. Part of me was relieved I'm not frigging nuts. Relieved I'm not a horrible person for Doubting her and then angry because her family had these doubts. She's done this in the past and no one says anything when the whole community is doing all of this for her and her family. So I was all over the place with that phone call.
Patia Eaton
Where did you guys leave it?
Dee Lynn
Well, I talked to his wife for, I'm going to say it was a good hour. And we were just like comparing notes on things that went on because she's like, that's why I wouldn't come to town to go to Lisa's benefit. Me and her sister in law, we just started talking and I can't tell you how many nights we would be up all night digging in rabbit holes, comparing stories.
Patia Eaton
I'm curious about this moment in high school that she did this before where she told people she had cancer when she didn't and kind of carried out a whole charade around it. Do you recall anything about what her brother told you about the time that that happened back in high school where she did that? Was she gaining any money, attention or what was the response? And how did it come to light that she had been faking it back in high school?
Dee Lynn
Well, he was in the military at the time, so he wasn't present. But one of her friends had told him about it, that it was very short lived that she said she had cancer. Then it was like immediately she shaved her head because she said the hair was falling out while word got to the teacher, the principal on that. So officials got involved because what's going on with this child? Where's these parents? And they approach the parent and her mom covers everything up for her. So her mom's like, lisa got confused. It's not cancer. It never was. They were treating her for something else and gave her the wrong medication. And she had a reaction to it. It made her hair fall out. That was that.
Patia Eaton
And so then it just went on like she just.
Dee Lynn
Okay, just went on.
Patia Eaton
As mind boggling as it is to hear that Lisa has done this before, Dee still needs proof that she's doing it again, lying about having cancer, because this time Lisa's an adult and people are giving her money thinking it's going toward cancer treatment. So Dee starts running stakeouts. She knows when Lisa has doctor appointments and chemotherapy because Lisa tells her so. Dee covertly waits outside her house to see if she ever leaves for those appointments. And she doesn't. But as this is all happening, Dee also starts noticing a change in the way that people are treating her. She's being stonewalled and isn't sure why, but eventually she figures that out too.
Dee Lynn
Here Lisa was telling these people that I'm a scam artist. I took some of her money from her fundraiser. I'm not as nice person as I portray to be, that I don't help Lisa like I say I do. She had to pay for everything, that I'm this horrible person.
Patia Eaton
The more Dee spoke about Lisa, the more Lisa seemed to double down on her story. And when Dee told mutual friends, look, I've even caught Lisa stealing belongings from my home, including prescription medication, Lisa came up with yet another story.
Dee Lynn
She told them that my neighbors were concerned that I was abusing my medication, and that's why she took it.
Patia Eaton
So she admits to taking the prescription from your house, and when she learns that you're communicating your discovery that she's lying to the people that were involved in the fundraising efforts, the people that were rallying around her in various ways in addition to raising money. How are you communicating this information to them?
Dee Lynn
I'm calling them personally because how did
Patia Eaton
it feel to have been, you know, sort of spearheading this effort to help her and have people donate to her and then to learn she was,
Dee Lynn
oh, my God, I can't even tell you how I felt. I felt horrible. I told people that I am so sorry. I know you gave a lot to support her. I apologize to people for her doing this to them and them doing so much to support her and that I'm finding this out. And I said, I'm sure you got doubts and concerns about me because I was the one that brought her in, in and not promote it, but, you know, ask for the help for her and everything. And I was the one in charge of all that. And you probably looking at me like, well, what'd you get out of it?
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Dee Lynn
Because at the time, I didn't know everything she was saying about me.
Patia Eaton
It was Dee's word against Lisa's, and people were still siding with Lisa, finding it impossible to believe that she could lie about having cancer. They believed instead that Dee was stealing money. Dee felt betrayed by the community that she'd become so involved in. But she could see how people would be fooled by Lisa because Lisa had fooled her, too. But then, in early 2023, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation started looking into Lisa, her claims of cancer, and all of the money that she'd accepted. And they certainly wouldn't be fooled. They executed multiple search warrants confirming that Lisa had been printing flyers stating that she was undergoing treatment for non Hodgkin's lymphoma So investigators reached out to local hospitals, but none had any record of treating her. Witnesses interviewed by investigators told them that Lisa and her husband had said that she'd not only had cancer, but that she'd survived it, only to have it return multiple times. Can you tell us from your perspective what took place and sort of the community's perspective as that investigation progressed?
Dee Lynn
Well, funny you should ask that because Lisa told everyone in the community they were not investigating her. They were investigating D. Lynn that D. Lynn has been scamming and stealing money from all these fundraisers and that she has to play along with it to help them because that is so wrong for Dylan to do that. So she is helping them by playing along like she's the one being investigated, but it's really not her. Yeah, I'm like, okay, if it's an investigation and I'm undercover, I'm not going to tell everyone that I'm undercover or I'm playing along with this investigation. I'm not going to say a word about it to anyone. Hello. They're going to tell you not to say anything to anyone. So as it went on and it got more into the news, you know, because court dates were being said and it came out, this is what they found, and these are the charges. And da, da, da, da, da. People are like, well, Lisa, you're being charged. Well, her response to them, no, it's really D. Lynn, I'm telling you, I'm going to go to court and whatever happens, happens. But it's so they can get D. Lynn. This is big.
Patia Eaton
So she is still even in the midst of, like, facing criminal charges. She's telling people, listen, just wait. It's gonna come out to be Dylan. I'm involved in this only as a means of them getting her, essentially, is what her story is.
Dee Lynn
I'm an informant.
Patia Eaton
I'm curious if her husband was charged with anything or what his sort of the perception of how much he knew.
Dee Lynn
He claims he knew nothing. They had nothing in text to one another. And I'm sorry, but yes, I believe that, but I'm sure he knew.
Patia Eaton
Did Lisa at any point ever admit that she did not. Does not have cancer?
Dee Lynn
No, not to me.
Patia Eaton
According to reporting by WTOL11 in Toledo, just four benefit events organized for Lisa brought in $16,833.65. That total doesn't include gift cards, cash sent directly to her, or all of the meals donated to Lisa and her family. A criminal investigation later revealed that from August 2021 through March 2023, Lisa collected thousands more from friends, neighbors, and strangers. Donors believed they were helping a woman fighting cancer, but there was no cancer. In April of 2023, Lisa admitted to investigators that she had lied about having the disease. She initially claimed that the money had been used for other unspecified medical issues. Investigators, however, found that by 2023, Lisa and her husband were more than $60,000 behind on their mortgage and their home was in foreclosure. On June 13, 2024, Lisa pleaded guilty to felony theft related to the cancer scheme. She was sentenced to six months in jail, two years of probation, 200 hours of community service, and ordered to pay more than $25,000 in restitution. But that still wasn't the end of it. Investigators continued digging, and another allegation surfaced. Lisa held a fundraiser for fallen officer Brandon Stocker, but failed to turn over all of those funds to his family. And In August of 2025, Lisa pleaded guilty to theft, a first degree misdemeanor. She received a suspended 180 day jail sentence, one year probation, and additional community service.
Dee Lynn
I reached out to everyone I could possibly think of to write a statement, impact statement for the judge, and the judge said it at one point in court that this is the most impact statement she has ever received. And she's been on murder trials, rape, child abuse. This is the most impact statement she has ever received. And I think everyone, in my opinion, because we were all concerned about her children.
Patia Eaton
Do you know if any of that money was ever returned?
Dee Lynn
Not that I know of. I know she had to pay restitution, but that the restitution was supposed to go to, like, cancer research or something like that. I think everyone was okay with not getting their money back, but they wanted the money to go to something that was going to benefit, you know, that was legit and not a scam. I think everyone that BCI talked to was okay with that because they had to interview everyone that they could. And I mean, that's the first thing I said. I don't want my money back. First, I want her to get help because of her children. And then, yes, if there's any monies that she has to pay back, give it to the women's center for making wigs or whatever, you know, something like that. I don't want it back because I gave it to help someone that was going through a bad time. I still want it to help someone that's going through a bad time.
Patia Eaton
So when was the last time you had any contact with Lisa?
Dee Lynn
The last time? Oh, my. Gosh she did call my phone when I was at work. This was like, oh, she called one time. It was during the court proceedings and that, and I didn't answer it. I was like, oh, my God. It, like, stunned me, you know? I'm like, why is she calling my phone? And then it was after she got out of jail. She called my phone. I answered it. I was like, hello? And she didn't say nothing at first. And I'm like, lisa, I know it's you. You came up on my caller id and she said, sorry, wrong number. And she hung up. That was the last contact we had, ever. My concern, and it kills me every day. I mean, I still, to this day, I ain't gonna lie. I'll drive by our house to hope to see the boys outside. I mean, they used to call me Aunt Dede. You know, they got bullied when they shaved their head to support their mom and went to school with shaved heads. And here to find out she was lying about it the whole time. And they came home crying. And you were okay with that? How can you be a mom and be okay knowing you lied to your children for them to support you and they're getting bullied at school? I couldn't live with myself. That would devastate me, you know?
Hannah Smith
Well, we got another scam story on the books.
Patia Eaton
Somehow they just keep on coming, right? It's like someone who's about to commit a cancer fraud clearly doesn't Google, has anyone ever been caught for committing a cancer fraud?
Hannah Smith
Yeah, but it also makes me wonder how many people have not been caught.
Dee Lynn
Right?
Patia Eaton
I know. Especially, like before social media, when people weren't congregating online and talking about things. It's like you could just scam one person. And, like, Lisa had people coming over to clean her house. Like, that is so intimate in a way. Someone emptying your trash, and you're just gonna let them do it thinking that you have cancer.
Hannah Smith
People like bringing over food. That part when Dee was talking about how she was just had so much food from the that it was going bad, and still she's like, yeah, keep it coming.
Patia Eaton
Yeah, that part is so nuts because Dee was always thinking about her community as a whole. Obviously, she was focused on helping Lysa, who had become her close friend and was now supposedly diagnosed with cancer. But, you know, she knew that there were a lot of people struggling around them, and to see all of these resources going to Lisa and then Lisa clearly wasting them was really hard for her.
Hannah Smith
Yeah, I feel like that was one of the Moments that was a red flag to her of, like, maybe something's going on.
Patia Eaton
Yeah. Like, this is so weird. Why do you need a fridge packed full of food.
Hannah Smith
Yeah.
Patia Eaton
That you're not going to eat?
Hannah Smith
And, you know, she probably brought over her taco lasagna.
Patia Eaton
I wish she'd bring it over here. It sounds pretty good. I've never heard of it before this interview. If I'm being honest, I feel like
Hannah Smith
I maybe heard of it one time.
Patia Eaton
Was it someone from Ohio?
Hannah Smith
Maybe. I don't even know if that made it into the final cut. I can't remember. But I do remember in the actual interview, she mentioned her taco lasagna at least twice because it was kind of like a crowd pleaser, one of her go to things. And she made it for people in the community, you know, like anytime someone needed help.
Patia Eaton
It does sound very comforting.
Hannah Smith
It's a casserole. It's basically like taco casserole. It has, like, tortillas in it, taco meat, salsa, cheese, guacamole, sour cream. But as a casserole.
Patia Eaton
No. That sounds wonderful.
Hannah Smith
Yeah. If anyone out there has had or loves taco lasagna, send us your recipe.
Patia Eaton
Yeah. Would love to try that. Yeah. Dee was a blast to speak with because she's a very passionate speaker. And you can tell that she. She really rode this wave of thinking her friend was going through potentially a life threatening illness with her children and her husband worried about her to being scammed in the strangest ways. Like the shed. I mean, it's like, okay, we're talking about a shed. How long can we really talk about a shed? But it's this part of the story where Dee's like, I didn't even ask you for this. I didn't even ask for this.
Hannah Smith
Like, I don't even want people donating to this. Because of course, as we've said, like, she cares so much about her community and is very aware that a lot of people lost their jobs in Covid and they don't have extra money. And so she's like, no, don't do this for me. I don't want this.
Dee Lynn
Right.
Hannah Smith
But then she gets roped into it.
Patia Eaton
Oh, my gosh. Yeah, that part of it. I was like, are we gonna really talk about a shed right now? But here we are. It's in the episode. Yeah, but that moment, actually of Lisa doing this, like, bizarre, unprompted thing, trying to gift Dee this shed, actually. So I recently had a conversation with another one of Lisa's victims who had a Completely different relationship with Lisa. And there's a lot in that story that is so different from Dee and her friendship with Lysa. But moments like this from Lysa, where we start to see these bizarre patterns emerge of. I don't know what the word is. Like, grandiosity. Is that a word? Or like, someone going way over the top for no reason, unprompted.
Hannah Smith
Lisa doing that.
Patia Eaton
Lisa doing that. And then you get to the end of the road and you're like, that was such a big and crazy lie, and I never even asked you to do any of that. Interesting.
Hannah Smith
I wonder if that's some kind of
Patia Eaton
strategy, maybe, like a distraction. But, yeah, I'm working on that now. And it will follow this episode, so you'll get to hear it. How exciting.
Radhi Devluka
Yeah.
Hannah Smith
Okay, so that's another one of Lysa's victims.
Patia Eaton
This is someone that Lisa had a relationship with outside of her marriage that had no idea that she was, in fact, very much married.
Hannah Smith
Oh, my gosh. Wow. Okay. There's actually so much more to this story, and so we've decided we're gonna do a whole nother episode next week. Patia's gonna talk about her conversation with this other victim of Lisa's. We're also going to cover an entirely different scam, but that is also connected to fundraising efforts for Toledo fallen officer Anthony Dia that took place and, like, give any updates about what's going on with Lisa. There's just too much to put at the end of this episode, so we're gonna save that and talk about all of it next week.
Patia Eaton
We'll see you guys then. Thanks for listening. If you have a story for us, we would love to hear it. Our email is thenifexactlyrightmedia.com or you can follow us on Instagram, henifepodcast or blueskyenifepodcast.
Hannah Smith
This has been an exactly right production, hosted and produced by me, Hannah Smith
Patia Eaton
and me, Pasha Eaton. Our producers are Tom Breifeogle and Alexis Amorosi.
Hannah Smith
This episode was mixed by Tom Breyfogle.
Patia Eaton
Our associate producer is Christina Chamberlain.
Hannah Smith
Our third themed music is by Birds in the Airport.
Patia Eaton
Artwork by Vanessa Lilac.
Hannah Smith
Executive produced by Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark and Danielle Kramer.
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Host: Hannah Smith & Patia Eaton
Guest: Dee Lynn
Date: June 18, 2026
Episode Theme:
An intimate, first-person exposé of a cancer fraud perpetuated by a beloved community member in Toledo, Ohio—and the devastating ripple effects on victims, trust, and local togetherness.
This episode of The Knife dives deep into a true crime story unfolding in a small Ohio community, examining the emotional and social costs of a complex cancer scam perpetrated by Lisa Titkmeyer. Through the firsthand account of Dee Lynn, a community organizer turned whistleblower and unintended victim, hosts Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton explore how good intentions, trust, and empathy can be weaponized for personal gain. The episode reveals not just the mechanics of the crime but the emotional toll on those ensnared.
Officer Anthony Dia’s Death (04:36–10:13):
The story roots in the 2020 killing of Officer Dia, which galvanized Toledo. Lisa Titkmeyer's young son started a well-publicized lemonade stand fundraiser, introducing Lisa’s family as generous, caring community pillars.
Lisa’s Reputation Grows (11:19–11:51):
Following further tragedies, Lisa organized more fundraisers—deepening trust and admiration within the community.
Lisa’s Announcement (11:51–13:03):
During a hot cocoa fundraiser, Lisa privately tells Dee she’s been diagnosed with cancer, without details at first, sparking immediate support from Dee and others.
Dee’s Support and Fundraising (13:36–15:17):
Dee mobilizes the community, arranging funds and meals. Lisa claims her insurance won’t cover costs and describes severe symptoms which only public audiences witness.
Physical Discrepancies (17:08–18:15):
Lisa alternates between acting gravely ill in public and appearing well in private, never exhibiting symptoms when alone with Dee.
Cash Handling Oddities (19:38–23:37):
Lisa demands all fundraiser cash be brought straight to her, acting with urgency unfamiliar to Dee. At public events Lisa appears frail, yet is suddenly fine in private (“...her husband's like, ripping open the envelopes...(21:21)”).
Suspicion Sets In (24:02–25:32):
Inconsistencies pile up—Lisa is seen ice skating, food delivered is more than can be used, and Dee’s prescription pills begin disappearing.
The Shed Incident (27:06–29:43):
Lisa claims she and the community bought Dee a surprise shed for event storage. The shed never arrives—when investigated, the store confirms no purchase was made.
Pointed Theft (30:32–32:47):
Dee catches Lisa (with a house key) likely stealing her medication, then returning it with an elaborate story, further unraveling trust.
Emotional Roller Coaster (34:44):
Dee accuses Lisa by phone; Lisa manipulates the situation, creating guilt and confusion, causing Dee to doubt her own perceptions.
Community Division & Gaslighting (47:44–48:57):
Lisa spreads rumors that Dee is the scammer, inverting roles and isolating Dee—leaving her ostracized despite her good intentions.
Lisa’s History of Deceit (44:36–46:56):
Conversation with Lisa’s brother reveals a high school pattern: Lisa faked cancer, shaved her head, and was enabled by her parents.
Ohio BCI Investigation (50:01–52:42):
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation uncovers conclusive evidence—Lisa was never a patient for cancer, but she’d collected $16,833 from four benefits alone, with further funds unaccounted for.
Legal Consequences (53:32–55:06):
Lisa is convicted and ordered to pay restitution, but victims (including Dee) are left emotionally and financially wounded.
Dee’s Regret and Empathy (55:47–58:23):
Dee expresses concern for Lisa’s children, who shaved their heads to support their mother, and are subsequently bullied—all based on a lie.
Reflections & Larger Questions (58:27–63:45):
The hosts discuss how such crimes manipulate community values, and note the ease with which similar scams might fly under the radar, especially before social media.
Dee on Early Suspicions:
“I started running out [of Adderall], and I'm like, how is that even possible?” (25:32—26:41)
The Emotional Toll:
“I felt horrible. I told people that I am so sorry...I'm sure you got doubts and concerns about me because I was the one that brought her in...” (49:13—49:55)
On Lisa’s Manipulation:
“[Lisa is] telling people, listen, just wait. It's gonna come out to be Dylan...I'm involved in this only as a means of them getting her, essentially, is what her story is.” (52:42–52:57)
Legal Summation:
“... Lisa pleaded guilty to felony theft ... and ordered to pay more than $25,000 in restitution. But that still wasn't the end of it.” (53:32–55:06)
On Dee’s Motivation:
“I don't want my money back...give it to the women's center for making wigs or whatever, you know, something like that. I don't want it back because I gave it to help someone that was going through a bad time.” (55:47–56:50)
Hosts’ Reflections:
“It also makes me wonder how many people have not been caught.” — Hannah Smith (58:37)
Dee’s Perspective:
The episode is a testament to the strength and vulnerability found in close-knit communities, the insidious nature of certain scams, and the importance of accountability—even when it’s hard to face uncomfortable truths about those we trust.