Woman Accused of Faking Own Stalking, Lying to Police

Police say a Marlborough woman faked her own stalking and harassment over text in order to frame her boyfriend's ex-wife using a Pinger cell phone program.

"Through the investigation and through subpoenas, it was determined that Cassandra Collins was actually the one behind everything,” said Marlborough Police Det. Scott DeCiero, who headed up the investigation. “All those false reports led to the ex-spouse getting arrested.”

In April of 2012, police began investigating stalking and criminal harassment being reported by Cassandra F. Collins, 21, of 369 Berlin Rd., and her boyfriend. The investigation culminated in the arrest of her boyfriend's ex-wife before police discovered that it was Collins who had been behind the reported harassment, according to court documents.

In October, Collins called police to report a break-in at her home. Shortly after that, she and her boyfriend both began receiving threatening texts from the same telephone number, according to court documents. They both reportedly told police that the person texting identified herself as the boyfriend's ex-wife.

Receive breaking news in your inbox or on your smartphone by signing up for our newsletter.

Collins told police there was an ongoing child custody battle with the ex-wife, according to court documents.

The texts continued, including threats to vandalize the boyfriend's property as well as physically harm Collins, according to police records. On one night, 18 texts were received by Collins from the number.

"Check her brake lines" and "I will find her so you better get her a bodyguard" were examples of texts sent to the boyfriend from the unknown texter, according to court records. Police were called to Collins' residence multiple times over concerns that the ex-wife was around the home after the texter sent information that could only be known by someone observing the home. At one point, the texter contacted a friend of Collins, harassing the friend, according to court documents.

On March 6, the Marlborough Police Department's investigation culminated with the arrest of the ex-wife. After hearing the Marlborough police were looking for her, she turned herself in to police unbeknownst to Collins. While the ex-wife was in jail, Collins reported more harassing texts, according to court records.

"It was now evident that (the ex-wife) could not have sent the texts yet someone was still sending them," said DeCiero in his report. "At this time it became clear that there was obviously another "unknown suspect" attempting to implicate (the ex-wife) in crimes that she now, may have had nothing to do with."

The ex-wife stated her innocence while she was in police custody.

"She added that she wouldn't put it past Cassandra Collins to have fabricated the whole thing," wrote DeCiero in his report.

On March 7, police asked that Collins and her boyfriend give their phones up for forensic investigation which they never did. Police confirmed that a Pinger account — which allows texts to be sent from a computer or cell phone from a number obtained for the program — was being used to send the texts.

Police used subpoenas to link the number that had been texting Collins and her boyfriend to the I.P. address and email of Collins, according to court documents.

When police spoke to Collins and her boyfriend on March 27 she admitted to sending all the texts.

"She admitted to using this Pinger account to send several text messages to herself, (her boyfriend) and to (her friend) to make it look like (the ex-wife) was responsible," wrote DeCiero in his report. "She admitted to doing this on several occurrences and reporting it to police multiple times in a misleading manner. Ms. Collins apologized for everything she did and was placed under arrest."

The boyfriend stated he knew nothing about Collins sending the texts. Police arrested Collins and charged her with eight counts of filing false police reports and misleading officers. After her arrest they searched her phone.

"Collins still had all the fabricated text messages stored on her cellular device," said DeCiero.

Collins was released on personal recognizance bail and ordered to have no contact with the victim.