US6 min(s) read
Published 16:15 22 Jun 2026 GMT
An FBI 'Most Wanted' fugitive disappeared after making a strange phone call to her ex-husband asking for help.
Vanessa O'Rourke, 37, is wanted by US police over allegations she faked terminal brain cancer and used the deception to collect more than $100,000 in donations before disappearing. Authorities believe she may still be living in Australia.
Now, her former husband, Michael Gulinello, has opened up about a bizarre conversation that took place years after their marriage ended.
Gulinello, 42, said O'Rourke somehow managed to contact him in 2020 even though he had changed his phone number following their divorce.
The former couple married in 2009 and divorced two years later.
"She somehow got a hold of me. She called and asked me if I could send her proof we got divorced because her mom can't do it," Mr. Gulinello told News.com.au. "I said no - she was already wanted."
Gulinello revealed that his ex-wife claimed she needed the paperwork because she wanted to return to the United States.
"As far as I know she's never come back to the US," he added.
He also said he never reported the phone call to police.
The FBI announced on May 23 that O'Rourke had been added to its Most Wanted list.
Federal prosecutors allege that between 2015 and 2016 she falsely claimed to be suffering from glioblastoma, an aggressive and often fatal form of brain cancer.
Per court documents, O'Rourke allegedly convinced friends, family members, and supporters to donate money through GoFundMe campaigns and local fundraising events by claiming she needed experimental treatment in Australia.
Prosecutors say the money was instead used to fund extravagant travel and vacations.
The fugitive was indicted in 2018 on 15 counts of wire fraud. Authorities say she has also used aliases, including Vanessa Gulinello and Cecilia Vincent Gaeta Lazaro.
When the indictment was unsealed in 2020, prosecutors said she was last known to be living in Queensland.
"The allegations in this case are nauseating. O'Rourke is charged with preying upon the kindness and generosity of good people who wished to help those in need. As alleged, there was no need here – only lies, greed and callous manipulation," then-US Attorney William McSwain said.
"Misleading people about a significant medical diagnosis in order to take advantage of their kind hearts and open wallets is reprehensible," Michael J. Driscoll, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division added.
While many of the allegations have shocked him, Gulinello said he believes there were warning signs during their relationship.
"She was really smart, good personality and stuff, but over the years, lots of lies came out," he said. "She was always a pathological liar."
He recalled one incident involving a deposit for their wedding venue.
"We were supposed to get married at some hall and had to put a $2500 deposit down, then she said she found out we couldn't get married there and told me they said they could only give $1200 back despite being fully refundable," he said. "About a month later, her mom got a car. I feel like that money was given to her mom."
Gulinello also said he helped finance O'Rourke's education by co-signing student loans.
"I literally took out student loans to help out her college," he said. "I thought I was being a good husband."
More than a decade later, he says the debt remains unresolved.
"I had to go to court numerous amount of times about the student loans because she never paid a penny back," he said. "Even when we got divorced, the court said my debt is her debt. And she never did anything... It's more than $100k."
Gulinello, who suffers from cystic fibrosis and severe stomach problems, said his ex-wife cared for him during some of the most difficult periods of his life.
"I was really sick for a two-to-three year span," he said. "She was really there for me. At that time, I thought I was on my way out."
However, he wonders whether she may have had ulterior motives. "I have thought maybe she thought I wasn't going to make it until 25... That she'd get some money, use me to co-sign, and I'd be dead," he added.
He also recalled O'Rourke becoming fascinated with Australia long before she eventually moved there.
"There was a student from Australia at her university, and I thought she was cheating on me with him because of how fixated she was on it," he said.
Gulinello said O'Rourke later began claiming she had a tumor.
"She started to say she had a tumor on her gland," he said. "I didn't not believe her, but her not having proof made me feel [suspicious]. That’s when we had irreconcilable differences... I have paperwork for everything with cystic fibrosis so I know how that all works - it wasn't adding up that she had nothing to show for it."
After relocating to Australia, O'Rourke allegedly got a job with Queensland medical services by posing as a brain surgeon and using falsified credentials.
She reportedly claimed to have studied at Temple University and regularly referred to herself as "Doctor".
When colleagues questioned gaps in her medical knowledge, she allegedly blamed memory loss caused by brain cancer treatment.
Queensland Police launched an investigation in 2017 after receiving information from US authorities.
O'Rourke later pleaded guilty to multiple fraud and forgery offences, including the use of forged documents.
The following year, she was placed in immigration detention after a partner visa application was rejected.
A tribunal later heard that O'Rourke accepted responsibility for her past conduct and was considered a very low risk to the community. She was subsequently released while her immigration case continued.
No publicly available record has confirmed whether she was granted a bridging visa, but she appears to have remained in Australia.
Despite everything that has emerged, Gulinello says he never expected his ex-wife to become an international criminal.
"I just think it's crazy it got to the point," he said. "She never did anything scandalous, I can think of other than lying to me."
US authorities have urged anyone with information about O'Rourke's whereabouts to contact the FBI or the nearest American embassy or consulate.
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us2 min(s) read
Published 12:42 08 Mar 2019 GMT
More than four years ago, in November 2014, Lamont Stephenson was charged with the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Olga DeJesus, and her dog. The two were killed in Newark, New Jersey, where Stephenson was known to have lived. After he was identified as a suspect, however, he fled the state.
For years, he evaded capture, eventually earning himself a spot on the FBI's top 10 most wanted list. This week, it was announced that he had been located - and it was all thanks to a call about a "suspicious person".
Officers responding to a 911 call found a man sleeping in a rental truck at about 2 a.m. in Prince George's County, just outside of Washington D.C. The man initially claimed that he was homeless, and had only taken refuge in the truck in order to stay out of the cold. After being asked his name, however, Stephenson confessed that he was wanted in a number of crimes, and was promptly arrested.
"I am proud to announce after 147 days on the Top 10 list, Lamont Stephenson was arrested this morning," FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Gregory Ehrie said yesterday at a press conference in New Jersey.
"One hundred and 47 days ago, I stood in this room and spoke to members of the press with my partners from the local and state entities behind you and we said that the world becomes a very small place and we warned Mr. Stephenson that he would be found."
The family of DeJesus, Stephenson's victim, are grateful that he has finally been located.
"We are just overwhelmed right now," said Felix DeJesus, the victim's brother. "We're happy. Everyone played a role in this and we are grateful ... Every single day for four years I waited for that phone call, every single day."
Since his arrest, it has been announced that Stephenson is a suspect in another murder.
Natina Kiah, who is believed to have been dating the wanted man, was found stabbed to death along with her cat in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night. Police had already issued a warrant for Stephenson's arrest when they were alerted to the murder.
The FBI had previously warned that Stephenson was extremely dangerous, and was expected to kill again.
"For him to be calm and collected after he had just strangled his fiancee shows a certain coldness and calculation," FBI Special Agent Carl Priddy said in a release last year. "He is definitely capable of doing this again."
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Prior to Stephenson's apprehension earlier this week, the FBI had been offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. It is not yet clear whether or not anyone will be able to claim the reward, as the caller who reported the murderer sleeping in the truck was actually a security worker in the area, and therefore was just doing their job.
Stephenson will now have to face charges for the 2014 murder, and will be questioned in connection to Kiah's homicide later on in the week.
us2 min(s) read
Published 14:54 01 Apr 2026 GMT
Ruja Ignatova, the notorious "Cryptoqueen," remains one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives for her role in a massive Ponzi scheme known as OneCoin. Despite vanishing in 2017, after a warrant for her arrest was issued by U.S. authorities, some believe she is still alive and on the run.
The case continues to capture global attention, with investigators sparking debate on whether Ignatova is still out there or if she met a grim end.
The OneCoin scam, which Ignatova co-founded, defrauded millions of investors, raking in at least $4 billion. Ignatova disappeared just before authorities closed in, and despite widespread reports of her being murdered, there is still no conclusive proof of her fate.
Ignatova was last seen boarding a flight from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Athens, Greece, in 2017.
Since then, there have been numerous alleged sightings of her in cities around the world, including London, Dubai, and the Virgin Islands. These unconfirmed reports have fueled speculation that she could be hiding in plain sight. However, authorities still lack concrete evidence to prove whether she's dead or alive.
The FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted list features Ignatova, with a $5 million reward for any information leading to her capture. Investigators believe her access to substantial funds has allowed her to evade capture and move freely between countries. One of the lead investigators on the case emphasized (via Metro), "We’ll get her, I’m convinced that we will find her. The question is always when."
A German police officer leading the investigation into Ignatova’s whereabouts shared insights on the case during an interview. The officer stated, “Neither Bulgarian police nor any other police force has been able to provide any evidence to prove this without doubt.” The investigation has been ongoing, with multiple law enforcement agencies working together to track her down.
There have also been unverified claims that she may have been killed in 2018, with her body allegedly disposed of in the Ionian Sea.
The search for Ignatova is not only about justice for victims but also about bringing closure to one of the largest financial frauds in recent history.
us2 min(s) read
Published 15:52 10 Jan 2023 GMT
A woman begged her mother to visit her a week before she disappeared on New Year's Day, leaving the mom to believe her daughter was in trouble.
Ana Walshe, 39, from Massachusetts, was reported missing on January 4 by her company after she claimed she was heading to the airport on January 1 to go to Washington DC for work, as reported by the New York Post.
In the days between Walshe going missing and her disappearance being reported, her husband Brian allegedly spent $450 on cleaning supplies as well as reportedly lying to officials about his whereabouts on these dates, per Fox News.
Brian was arrested for allegedly misleading investigators who were looking into Walshe's disappearance and was brought before the court where he pleaded not guilty on Monday (Jan 9).
The Fox News report continued that Walshe had begged her mother to come and visit her before she vanished, leaving the grieving mom to believe her daughter was in danger.
Standing outside her apartment in Belgrade, Serbia, Milanka Ljubicic told Fox: "She just said, ‘Please, mama. Come tomorrow.' Which means that clearly, there must have been some problems."
Walshe sent Ljubicic a text message on Christmas day asking if she could fly to Washington DC the following day to meet her.
"She texted in the evening, urging me to come the next day to Washington," Ljubicic said. "I can’t get myself together in one day. I am 69 years old, I have to get my medications and a thousand other things."
Walshe gave her mother no explanation as to why the request was so urgent, and when other dates were put forward for a visit, the 39-year-old indicated that it no longer mattered and not to worry.
"Now I can’t forgive myself for not just letting things fall where they may, and just go, and whatever happens to me, happens," Ljubicic said.
The 69-year-old went on to reveal that her daughter attempted to call her at midnight on December 31, but both calls were missed. Walshe then tried to call her sister and maid-of-honor who both missed the calls.
As reported by CNN, investigators allegedly found internet searches of "how to dispose of a 115-pound woman’s body" in Brian's computer history.
Prosecutors have also revealed that blood was found in Walshe's basement alongside a bloody knife found at the property.
"In total, I spent sixteen months with my son-in-law and I never noticed anything bad about my son-in-law," Ljubicic said, indicating that her daughter loved her husband.
Walshe had reportedly become frustrated with her husband due to the limitations surrounding his movement as he awaited sentencing as a convicted art fraudster.
"I just have just one wish, and that is that my daughter is alive," Ljubicic concluded.
us3 min(s) read
Published 09:53 11 Feb 2026 GMT
A man has spoken out after being detained in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, while the FBI releases images of a masked individual involved in the case.
Nancy, 84, was last seen at her daughter's home on the evening of January 31, before she was driven back to her own house by her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni.
The following morning, she was reported missing after failing to show up for a scheduled church service, prompting an urgent and widespread search, as well as growing concerns for her safety.
The distraught family later confirmed that ransom notes demanding a bitcoin payment for her safe return had been sent to major media outlets, despite the kidnappers missing two payment deadlines.
On Tuesday (February 10), police took a man into custody during a traffic stop south of Tucson in relation to the case.
Officials had been tracking the vehicle before detaining the individual, and later searched a property in Rio Rico connected to him.
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was questioned by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. However, CNN reported that he was released after the cops completed their search.
In an interview with CNN affiliate KNXV, the man denied any involvement in Nancy’s disappearance.
"They told me I was being detained for kidnapping. I asked them, ‘kidnapping of who?’" the man, who authorities have not identified, said.
"I told them… I might have delivered a package to their house, but I never kidnapped anybody," he added.
He also mentioned that his wife was driving the car when they were pulled over by law enforcement.
While the investigation continues, the authorities have not confirmed whether the man detained is connected to the troubling video released earlier this week.
The black-and-white footage shows a masked individual, who appears to be wearing gloves and a backpack, tampering with Nancy's door camera shortly before her disappearance.
Per The Guardian, FBI Director Kash Patel said the images, initially unavailable to authorities, were recovered from "residual data" in the camera's back-end system.
The search for Nancy has grown increasingly urgent as her health deteriorates. She is dependent on daily medication, which she has been without since her abduction.
"She is 84 years old. Her health, her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain," said Nancy’s daughter Savannah. "She needs her medicine to survive. She needs it not to suffer."
Despite an intensive investigation by both local authorities and the FBI, which has dispatched agents from multiple field offices, there have been no significant leads, and the identity of the kidnappers remains unknown.
Authorities have pleaded for the public’s help in locating the 84-year-old and have urged anyone with information to call the FBI or Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
"We are at an hour of desperation," Savannah said in a public plea earlier this week. "We need your help."
us3 min(s) read
Published 12:02 12 Feb 2026 GMT
A former FBI agent has claimed a black glove found near Nancy Guthrie's home could be key to cracking her kidnapping case.
As previously reported, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has been missing since the early hours of February 1, after being abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona.
She was last seen the evening before after she was dropped back to her house by her daughter and son-in-law, and the alarm was raised when she failed to arrive for a church service the following day.
Drops of her blood were seen leading up to her door and a doorbell camera had been deactivated in the early hours, however, police have since been able to recover some footage from the device.
The images show a man approaching the camera wearing a balaclava and large backpack, before trying to cover the lens with a gloved hand as well as some foliage he'd collected from the front yard.
The search is still ongoing to establish the identity of the man and to find Nancy's whereabouts, with her daughter, Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, having issued direct pleas to her kidnappers on social media.
During the investigation, a black glove similar to the ones worn by the man captured on camera at her door, was found on the roadside around a mile and a half from her home.
Former FBI agent Michael Harrigan, who oversaw the FBI National Academy, believed the discovery would "be significant" if it is linked to the kidnapping.
He told the New York Post: "The question would be whether that glove was like a nitrile glove that was placed over another glove or whether it went against the skin.
"Whether it’s against the skin or over another glove would determine the likelihood of DNA being transferred to it from the suspect."
He revealed that the glove will be thoroughly analyzed to see if any skin cell DNA from Nancy or the potential perpetrator is present, however, he warned that there is the possibility it is simply "just another glove discarded by a worker or somebody else."
If DNA from the wearer is found, police will be looking to track them down and speak to them to establish their whereabouts on the night of the kidnapping.
Harrigan warned that while a connection to the crime is a "very low probability thing with a glove that far away" from the scene, nothing is insignificant 11 days into a kidnapping investigation.
He added: "The fact that you would have investigators walking along a roadway one and a half miles away looking for items that likely could have been thrown out of a car or a vehicle, discarded, tells you that they are absolutely doing a lot of detail work in this case behind the scenes.
"In this instance, with it being a kidnapping, there is no limit really to a perimeter [of the search]."
Currently, authorities have not identified any suspects in the kidnapping, despite bringing one man in for questioning who was later released.
Delivery driver Carlos Palazuelos, from Rio Ricos, 60 miles south of Tucson, was briefly detained on Tuesday evening but was released several hours later.
Several ransom demands were received in the wake of Nancy's disappearance, including one which police were taking seriously, though the deadline stated in the letter has since passed.
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