In a shocking case that has captured public attention, a social worker has been sentenced for impersonating a 13-year-old orphan to deceive foster parents.
The individual at the center of the controversy is Shelby Hewitt, who was once touted as a 'millionaire' social worker.
Hewitt's complex plan included taking on fake identities and going to different high schools, all while pretending to be a vulnerable teenager.
The reason behind Hewitt's actions is still unclear, which has left many people confused.
Former classmates of Hewitt expressed their feelings of betrayal and confusion upon learning the truth.
Jannell Lamons, a friend who was deceived by Hewitt, voiced her disappointment, questioning why someone would engage in such deception.
These included document forgery, common law forgery, uttering false or forged records, identity fraud, larceny, and violating public employee standards of conduct.
While Hewitt maintained her innocence, the evidence presented during the trial contradicted her claims.
The investigation revealed that Hewitt initially posed as a Department of Children and Families worker to gain admission to a treatment center as a child patient.
After that, she enrolled in high schools under different aliases, including the names 'Daniella Blake Herrera' and 'Ellie Blake,' posing as a 16-year-old and a 13-year-old, respectively.
During that time, Hewitt lived with a couple named Rebecca Bernat and John Smith. They sincerely believed they were providing foster care for a vulnerable teenager.
The couple, who have not faced any legal charges, genuinely cared about helping someone in need. However, their trust, along with that of others who had contact with Hewitt, was severely betrayed.
While allegedly posing as a teenager, she was also working as a social worker and even purchased a two-bedroom condo.
As the case drew public interest, Globe Magazine conducted an inquiry to uncover the reasons behind Hewitt's actions.
While she couldn't disclose specific details due to legal limitations, she implied that there was a motive behind her behavior.
