State Seeks Missing Donations: New York AG sues teen’s relatives; raises oversight questions

A New York teenager who lost her father and four sisters in a devastating house fire was at the centre of a legal dispute months later, after relatives who raised more than $100,000 to support her allegedly failed to hand over most of the money. According to a 2019 report by WWNY-TV and court documents cited by the broadcaster, the New York Attorney General’s office sought the return of $71,539.29, alleging that the funds had been improperly spent and that investigators had been misled about the money. The case was filed in New York State Supreme Court in October 2019 by then-Attorney General Letitia James. The state alleged that the relatives had not transferred the full amount to Hailey or her mother, Melissa Davey, despite repeated requests for an accounting. The original court petition also alleged that the fundraisers had failed to comply with state requirements governing charitable donations. WWNY-TV⁠ and the court petition⁠ detailed the allegations.A community came together after the tragedyThe fire broke out on February 14, 2019, at the family’s home on Myrtle Avenue in Watertown, New York. Hailey’s father, Aaron Bodah, and her four sisters, Merissa, Alexa, Erin and Skylar,...