Trista Joy Lathern Accused of Faking Cancer for Breast Augmentation Money

Friends say Lathern shaved her head to support her alleged ruse.
A 24-year-old Texan woman has been arrested on deception charges after she allegedly fooled friends and co-workers into paying for her breast augmentation.

According to reports, Trista Joy Lathern told her family and friends that she was suffering from breast cancer. Friends say she raised $10,000 at a benefit, claiming she needed money to fund her chemotherapy treatments. Lathern even shaved her head to support her claim.

Court records indicate Lathern may have sought the implants to save her seven-month marriage. Lathern's husband filed for an annulment on the day of her arrest. He is seeking custody of their two children.

A spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure in Waco said she hopes Lathern's story will encourage people to examine the causes to which they contribute more carefully: "Maybe this incident will be a red flag so they will do a little more investigating to see where their money and support are going to. It broke my heart when I read about [Lathern]. It made me upset that someone would go to such extremes when all that money could have helped someone who really needed it."