A mother who fabricated her six-year-old son's cancer diagnosis to obtain thousands of dollars in donations has been condemned as a cruel and manipulative attention-seeker by a South Australian judge.
Sentencing Details
In the South Australia District Court, Judge Geraldine Davison sentenced Michelle Bodzsar, 45, from West Lakes, to four years, three months and 20 days in prison. She had pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in acts likely to cause harm to her son and 10 counts of deception. The court heard that Bodzsar forced her son to take pseudo medication while falsely claiming he had cancer, causing the boy to believe he was seriously ill.
Background of Offences
The court was previously informed that Bodzsar developed a gambling addiction during the COVID-19 pandemic and was living beyond her means. However, Judge Davison rejected financial difficulties as the root cause, stating: 'Your offending is far more cruel and manipulative ... It was designed as an attention-seeking device.'
The deception began after the son suffered an eye injury from a trampoline fall in September 2024. Despite tests by an ophthalmologist clearing him of any serious condition, Bodzsar told her husband, Ben Miller, that their son had cancer, claiming scans revealed three tumours on his optic nerve requiring radiotherapy. She posted images on social media of her son with a shaved head, soliciting donations to a bank account.
Financial and Emotional Harm
Bodzsar transferred over $5,000 to her account for daily living expenses and received thousands in cash donations. The judge emphasised the daily harm inflicted on the child through forced pseudo medication, describing it as 'a form of child maltreatment and child abuse.' The local school community also suffered shock, betrayal, and anger, feeling shame for not detecting the lies earlier.
Impact on Family
Outside court, Mr Miller stated that no sentence could justify the harm done to his children. He was initially charged but was unaware of the deception, losing his job and career due to home detention and being separated from his children for nearly seven months. The couple's son is now experiencing unexplained anger and sadness, while their eight-year-old daughter fears abandonment.
Psychological Diagnosis and Rehabilitation Concerns
Since her arrest, Bodzsar has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, but the judge expressed significant concerns about her prospects for true rehabilitation. Bodzsar showed little emotion during sentencing, aside from becoming teary when her childhood was mentioned.
Sentence and Parole Eligibility
Judge Davison imposed a non-parole period of two years and four months, making Bodzsar eligible for parole in April 2027. The judge declined to suspend the sentence or allow home detention, stating that would rightly outrage the community. She clarified that the sentence was only for the offences pleaded guilty to, not for the broader cruelty and manipulation.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25).
