WREG.com

Dyersburg police: Scammer may be using woman’s tragic death to collect money

DYERSBURG, Tenn. — Police in Dyersburg have issued an alert after they received reports of an unknown person taking up donations in the name of a woman who was recently discovered dead.

Shelby Hubbard was reported missing six weeks ago and was located in a wood area behind her Dyer County subdivision on March 26.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation.

Now, as Hubbard’s family and friends wait for answers, police issued a warning that someone may be taking advantage of the tragic situation. They said money containers have been placed in local businesses in the Dyersburg area, saying the money will go to the Hubbard family.

We checked with numerous businesses in Dyersburg and were told a donation jar was removed from a KFC on Lake Road by investigators. A shift manager told us an employee who went to school with Hubbard placed the jar on the counter, and it contained about $130.

The shift manager says the money was given to Hubbard’s family. But authorities said the family doesn’t know anything about the collection and didn’t authorize anyone to take up money on their behalf.

“These people out here doing scams like that. I mean, it’s just disgusting really,” resident Kassi Scott said. “That ruins everybody’s chance to get help, because now everybody’s scared to donate.”

Anyone with information on the containers are asked to call (731) 288-7679 or (731) 285-1212.