Alleged adoption scammer arrested in Nashville
By Russ Oechslin, Journal correspondent | Posted: Wednesday, July 19, 2006
A woman believed to have been involved in an alleged adoption scheme with a Spirit Lake, Iowa, couple and several others, faces several charges in Nashville, Tenn.
Marissa Marie Foltz, also known as Amy Ost Cumbee and several other aliases, was arrested at a south Nashville domestic abuse shelter early last week after the director of the shelter recognized her from the "NBC Dateline" television program (which aired July 9), and called authorities.
While the initial charge against Foltz dealt with failure to appear for a traffic violation, she was later charged with identity theft and is being held on $100,000 bond. She is due to appear in court today.
Foltz, then known as Cumbee, presented herself to Chantel and Mike Early of Spirit Lake in the summer of 2005 as expecting a child for them to adopt. When the couple arrived at the Nashville hospital where the baby was to be born, Cumbee was nowhere to be found and did not answer calls to her cell phone.
The couple later adopted a newborn son in Sioux City.
According to the affidavit filed with the warrant for her arrest, "Christy Tidwell learned that Marissa M. Foltz used her name and received cash from individuals that knew Marissa as 'Christy Tidwell.' Marissa Foltz profited from the cash donations while presenting herself to be Christy."
Pam Taylor, director of the shelter where the two have stayed for more than a month, explained that when they came from a short-term domestic violence facility, the woman who was later identified as Foltz used the name Amy Tidwell and said she was Christy Tidwell's sister.
Christy Tidwell, according to Taylor, is of diminished mental capacity and controlled by Foltz. "She (Christy Tidwell) was completely and totally controlled by this woman (Foltz)," Taylor says. "Christy thought they were in a relationship -- partners."
Taylor says her facility is the only one in the area considered a long-term shelter where women can stay for up to two years. Foltz was not working while she lived at the shelter because she said she was pregnant and due to deliver her baby in August.
The director explained that Foltz appeared to be pregnant -- but had the same appearance in the television interview that was taped in January, before she was living at the facility.
A background check was done at the time Foltz was admitted. But, says Taylor, they apparently did not check fingerprints or a Social Security number, or used the wrong Social Security number and had the wrong name, which came back indicating no prior problems.
Authorities in this area have two Social Security numbers for Foltz, neither of which is the one she or Christy Tidwell used at the shelter.
Foltz had a room full of clothes and baby supplies donated to her by churches, including one of the biggest churches in the area, according to Taylor. Foltz's explanation to Christy Tidwell was that the Wal-Mart gift cards, which were actually purchased by prospective adoptive parents, also came from churches, Taylor said Christy Tidwell told her.
Christy Tidwell remains at the south Nashville shelter.
Marissa Marie Foltz, also known as Amy Ost Cumbee and several other aliases, was arrested at a south Nashville domestic abuse shelter early last week after the director of the shelter recognized her from the "NBC Dateline" television program (which aired July 9), and called authorities.
While the initial charge against Foltz dealt with failure to appear for a traffic violation, she was later charged with identity theft and is being held on $100,000 bond. She is due to appear in court today.
Foltz, then known as Cumbee, presented herself to Chantel and Mike Early of Spirit Lake in the summer of 2005 as expecting a child for them to adopt. When the couple arrived at the Nashville hospital where the baby was to be born, Cumbee was nowhere to be found and did not answer calls to her cell phone.
The couple later adopted a newborn son in Sioux City.
According to the affidavit filed with the warrant for her arrest, "Christy Tidwell learned that Marissa M. Foltz used her name and received cash from individuals that knew Marissa as 'Christy Tidwell.' Marissa Foltz profited from the cash donations while presenting herself to be Christy."
Pam Taylor, director of the shelter where the two have stayed for more than a month, explained that when they came from a short-term domestic violence facility, the woman who was later identified as Foltz used the name Amy Tidwell and said she was Christy Tidwell's sister.
Christy Tidwell, according to Taylor, is of diminished mental capacity and controlled by Foltz. "She (Christy Tidwell) was completely and totally controlled by this woman (Foltz)," Taylor says. "Christy thought they were in a relationship -- partners."
Taylor says her facility is the only one in the area considered a long-term shelter where women can stay for up to two years. Foltz was not working while she lived at the shelter because she said she was pregnant and due to deliver her baby in August.
The director explained that Foltz appeared to be pregnant -- but had the same appearance in the television interview that was taped in January, before she was living at the facility.
A background check was done at the time Foltz was admitted. But, says Taylor, they apparently did not check fingerprints or a Social Security number, or used the wrong Social Security number and had the wrong name, which came back indicating no prior problems.
Authorities in this area have two Social Security numbers for Foltz, neither of which is the one she or Christy Tidwell used at the shelter.
Foltz had a room full of clothes and baby supplies donated to her by churches, including one of the biggest churches in the area, according to Taylor. Foltz's explanation to Christy Tidwell was that the Wal-Mart gift cards, which were actually purchased by prospective adoptive parents, also came from churches, Taylor said Christy Tidwell told her.
Christy Tidwell remains at the south Nashville shelter.
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