Police: Truman Student From St. Peters Faked Letter Claiming She Had Terminal Cancer

A Truman State University student from St. Peters has been charged with felony forgery after police said faked a doctor's note claiming she had cancer.

According to the Index, Victoria Marut, 22, was working at Kirksville Primary School while getting her Master of Arts in Education degree from the University. Department of Public Safety Director for the University Tom Johnson told the Index Marut had told University employees she had cancer.

Johnson said Truman, concerned about Marut’s health, asked the student to provide documentation that she was physically able to continue her internship. Johnson said Marut gave the University a letter later that afternoon. The letter head a Boone Hospital letterhead with Doctor Michael Trendle’s name. The letter gave Marut's diagnosis, but also said she should be able to continue her internship.

The doctor's letter, however, didn't sit well with Kirksville Primary School Principal Tricia Reger. The principal told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that she found the timing of the letter odd—she said the letter came at the end of the day when doctor's are traditionally busy. Reger encourage Truman to get consult with the Doctor on the letter.

Trendle, an oncologist with the Missouri Cancer Associates, confirmed he did not write the letter and never had Marut as a patient.

The Adair County prosecutor charged Marut with felony forgery on Nov. 14 for producing the fake letter. The Index reports Marut was in jail, but has recently been released.

Johnson told the Post-Dispatch that Marut she made the letter on her computer. She told Johnson she wasn’t terminal, nor did she have a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Marut told Johnson she had been shaving her head to make other think she had cancer. 

Johnson told the Post-Dispatch that the inquiry is continuing, and Marut could be charged with stealing by deception for accepting gifts. The Index reports Marut may have accepted a $700 wig along with other gifts.