Kansas man accused of using fake stories about dying relatives to scam churches
By Nick Sloan
Click here for updates on this story
BATES COUNTY, Missouri (KMBC) — A Kansas man is accused of traveling to churches across multiple states and making up stories about dying family members to get money.
The Bates County Sheriff’s Office said Tracy Humbert, of Fort Scott, Kansas, targeted churches in Missouri, Kansas and Iowa.
The sheriff’s office said that Humbert, 53, allegedly approached churches, claiming he needed money to travel to assist sick or dying relatives.
Those stories ended up being false, according to the Bates County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said Humbert targeted multiple churches in Bates County between November 2025 and October 2026.
On Oct. 11, deputies arrested Humbert after a church reported he was there attempting to get more money.
The sheriff’s office said Humbert will be charged with felony theft by deceit and is being held in the Bates County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.
The sheriff’s office is asking any other churches in Bates County that may have been targeted to call 660-679-3232.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.