HALL COUNTY, Ga. — An accused con woman, who allegedly promised God's blessing while gathering donations for a fake family in need, is behind bars.
Police say Linda Morgan, 46, of Flowery Branch, made bogus claims to get good Samaritans to open their wallets.
Investigators say Morgan showed up at several businesses in Oakwood claiming she was raising donations for a family burned out of their home. She even told them the family’s dog died in the fire.
Sharon Hutchings, who owns Curt’s Cafeteria, says Morgan seemed sincere when she told the story of a family in need.
Hutchins said Morgan showed up at the door of her restaurant and said she was raising the funds on behalf of Hopewell Baptist Church.
“‘Would you please help support a family that's lost their home to a fire, even lost their family dog?’” Hutchins recalled from the conversation.
“We gave her some money,” Hutchins said. “She said the children were hungry so we gave them some food.”
She said Morgan told her God would bless her for her generosity. Police say Morgan pitched the same sad story while soliciting another business, but changed the beneficiary.
She then falsely claimed to be a city employee, a bank employee, and went back to Curt's looking for another handout, according to investigators.
“I need to go buy some things for the children. One of the children is sick and we don't have enough money to get medicine,” Hutchins recalled Morgan saying.
Police say Morgan’s sob story was a total sham. A suspicious business wrote down her license plate number. When police went to arrest her, she told them she was stealing the money to buy fancy dog food.
Police are not sure how much money she got.
Morgan is charged with three counts of false statements by a telephone solicitor and two counts of impersonating a public employee.
“I’m really upset she would take advantage of our local business like this and not be telling the truth,” Hutchins said.
Police say they've received calls from other businesses that Morgan approached for donations and that there could be additional charges.
WSBTV
