A Massachusetts woman appeared in court on Tuesday, accused of faking her own cancer death in order to avoid having to face a judge for drunk driving and shoplifting charges.

Shannon Wilson shook her head in Plymouth District Court as prosecutors laid out the indictment against her.

“This is a defendant who was willing to fake her own death,” Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney Alex Zane said.

Wilson is charged with one count each of furnishing false identifying information, obstruction of justice, forgery, uttering of a public record, and failure to appear after release on bail.

Woman accused of faking own death

Prosecutors said the 45-year-old woman orchestrated the scheme to evade cases from 2022-2023. The first came in 2022 when she was arrested on a charge of operating under the influence.

“And this is when she first raises that she has terminal brain cancer,” Zane said, adding that Wilson told a Hingham judge at the time that she was dying.

They argue that she did the same thing during an arraignment for a shoplifting charge in Plymouth.

Then, prosecutors said Wilson stopped appearing in court. Defense attorneys reported that Wilson was in hospice care as her condition deteriorated.

“And ultimately, the counsel representing the defendant gives the court a screen grab or a print out of a text message that he received from that number he’s been communicating with that he believes is the defendant’s family of a death certificate from Rhode Island saying that she had passed away,” Zane said, saying the claim that Wilson died happened in May 2023.

Investigators looked at the grainy copy of the death certificate. The doctor whose signature was used, the hospice center listed, and the funeral home all had no record of Wilson’s death. Prosecutors determined the document was a fake.

Shannon Wilson charged in Massachusetts

In August 2023, the person who previously posted Wilson’s $400 bail recovered the money after being informed she was dead. Several weeks later, prosecutors say Wilson showed up at the person’s house and allegedly admitted she had faked her death.

Wilson allegedly also duped her ex-fiancé, who she lived with in a Plymouth home.

“He indicated a week or so after the Hingham matter was dismissed, he actually thought that she was dead,” Zane said.

Wilson’s defense attorney argued that she was not the architect of the plan.

“She’s not the one who made these phone calls. She’s not the one who prepared the document that Mr. Zane referred to and she’s not the individual who submitted that to the court,” defense attorney Josh Werner said. Werner did not say who he believes sent in the fake death certificate. 

Wilson pleaded not guilty and is being held on $50,000 bail.

Massachusetts and California are the first US states to become IUCN members.

BOSTON (WWLP) – The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced Massachusetts is now an official member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a global network of more than 1,400 governments and organizations.

Massachusetts and California are the first U.S. states to become members of the IUCN, marking a significant step in the states’ environmental leadership. This milestone places Massachusetts within the world’s leading coalition focused on advancing the conservation of nature and addressing environmental challenges at a global scale.

The IUCN membership strengthens Massachusetts’ commitment to biodiversity and climate action. It also builds on the state’s nation-leading Biodiversity Conservation Goals, which define a whole-of-government approach to rebuild biodiversity and invest in nature to sustain public health, well-being, food security and the economy.

“In Massachusetts, we are taking proactive steps to protect the natural resources people rely on, from clean water and open spaces to healthy wildlife,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Joining this global network puts Massachusetts at the table with leaders from around the world and gives us access to proven tools and practical solutions we can use here at home.” 

Massachusetts is home to many globally rare habitats and threatened species, including coastal shorebirds, sea turtles, whales, salamanders, and dragonflies. The state is known for its coastline, fishing communities, cranberry bogs, orchards, and mountain glens. These species and landscapes face growing pressures from climate change, such as flooding and drought.

By joining IUCN, the state will strengthen its ability to respond to these challenges. It will gain access to a global network of conservation expertise and resources. Massachusetts will also bring its own experience protecting and restoring species and their habitats to the international forum.

This partnership, led by the Department of Fish & Game for Massachusetts, will support ongoing work to protect and restore biodiversity and natural areas, build resilience and connect the state to broader international efforts.

“As an IUCN member, Massachusetts is now part of a growing group of subnational governments who are contributing to crucial action on the ground, knowledge exchange, and progress towards achieving conservation targets of global significance,”  said IUCN Director General Dr Grethel Aguilar. 

The state’s membership in the IUCN aligns with investments proposed in Governor Healey’s Mass Ready Act. This act helps protect the state’s natural resources and prepares for extreme weather. The membership gives Massachusetts added support to better protect these resources and keep them accessible.