2 charged with making fraudulent claims to collect State Fair funds

Two women face charges – including forgery and theft – for filing false claims with the Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund and the Indiana Tort Claim Fund, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday.

Stephanie Murry and Sandra Hurn both submitted claims to the privately funded Remembrance Fund and filed a notice of tort claim for property damage and/or personal injury to the Office of the Indiana Attorney General. The two claimed they were injured in the August stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair and are alleged to have falsified hospital records in order to be eligible to make claims to both funds.

Hurn received $7,500 from the Remembrance Fund. Both were arrested after trying to collect money from the Tort Claim Fund.

Murry is charged with one count of Class C felony forgery, one count of Class D felony perjury and one count of Class D felony attempted theft. Hurn faces three counts of Class C felony forgery, two counts of Class D felony perjury, one count of Class D felony theft and one count of Class D felony attempted theft.

Their fraudulent claims totaled $22,500.

 “It is particularly troubling that individuals would attempt to illegally profit upon a tragedy such as the State Fair stage collapse,” said Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry. “We have zero tolerance for those who wish to gain at the misfortune of others. I also want to thank Attorney General Greg Zoeller and his office for their cooperation and assistance throughout this investigation. We will not stand idly by while greedy individuals take from those who are truly deserving of compensation from this tragedy.”