A Las Vegas woman who claimed that she and her children would be evicted from their home if the national eviction moratorium was not extended has admitted that she is not the kids’ biological mother, CNN reports.
Dasha Kelly started a GoFundMe to raise $2,000 to pay her back rent.
“My name is Kelly and I have 3 daughters in Nevada,” the fundraiser read. “We were maintaining just before this pandemic hit. Now we are suffering … Please help with anything you can.”
In an interview with CNN last week, Kelly said that they “freaked (her) out” when they showed up at her door. “I’m not going to lie,” Kelly said, “because I’m really thinking [our ousters are] coming at any moment.”
Immediately, her GoFundMe began receiving donations.
“I just want to tell everybody thank you so much,” Kelly said. “I’m still in denial.”
On Monday, CNN wrote an update on its website where they verified that Kelly was not the girls' biological mother. Shadia Halo later identified herself as their biological mother, reporter Nick Watt said.
Kelly said she described herself as the girls’ mother because she considered herself to be a maternal figure to them.
“I take care of these girls in my home for periods of time, and have for the last couple years,” Kelly wrote in an update to her GoFundMe on Aug. 9. “I’ve loved these girls unconditionally, and have been out of the kindness of my heart. I treat them as my daughters, and care for them in this way.”
The three girls are expected to return to their biological mother’s home in time for the new school year.
A rep for GoFundMe told CNN that the funds raised by Kelly will remain on hold until all of her information is verified and currently no money has been withdrawn.
Anyone who donated to Kelly can request a refund through Aug. 23, the spokeswoman said.
