A New York teenager who lost her father and four sisters in a devastating house fire was at the centre of a legal dispute months later, after relatives who raised more than $100,000 to support her allegedly failed to hand over most of the money. The New York Attorney General’s office sought the return of $71,539.29, alleging that the funds had been improperly spent and that investigators had been misled about the money, according to a 2019 report by WWNY-TV and court documents cited by the broadcaster. The case was filed in New York State Supreme Court in October 2019 by then-Attorney General Letitia James.
The state alleged that the relatives had not transferred the full amount to Hailey or her mother, Melissa Davey, despite repeated requests for an accounting. The original court petition also alleged that the fundraisers had failed to comply with state requirements governing charitable donations. WWNY-TV and the court petition detailed the allegations.
The fire broke out on February 14, 2019, at the family’s home on Myrtle Avenue in Watertown, New York. Hailey, then 13, was the only surviving child in the family. However, investigators subsequently obtained bank records that showed $97,199.29 had been deposited into an account called the Bodah Family Memorial Fund between February 19 and September 23, 2019.
In a letter published in the local newspaper, her paternal relatives had reportedly assured donors that the money would be managed responsibly and used for her benefit, according to the state’s court filing. Hailey’s father, Aaron Bodah, and her four sisters, Merissa, Alexa, Erin and Skylar, died in the blaze. The fundraising was intended to help Hailey following the loss of her immediate family. The state alleged that a substantial portion of the money remained unaccounted for or had been spent on purchases that were not consistent with the stated purpose of the fundraising.