Yes, Samaritans will get those charitable Bethany Storro donations back, Riverview Community Bank announced Tuesday.
Bank officials issued a statement, saying account holders of the benefit fund have authorized the bank to refund the money.
Those who deposited checks can expect reimbursement checks in the mail in the next few days, officials said. Those who gave cash donations can get their money back if they provide a receipt within 30 days, according to a press release from the bank.
After a month, all unclaimed donations will be given to the Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center to assist in the rehabilitation of burn victims.
About $20,000 was in the account, officials said at the time theft charges were filed against Storro.
Another $5,700, which the bank raised at a golf tournament, was given to Community Services Northwest, a local nonprofit organization for low-income people seeking treatment for mental illness and addictions, said Scott Miller, the bank’s senior vice president of marketing.
“We looked for a worthwhile case that had a tie-in with what we learned from the Storro investigation,” Miller said.
The reason for the delay in reimbursement, Miller said, was because the bank had to wait until Vancouver police detectives closed their investigation.
In all, more than 100 people donated money to help Storro with her medical bills, he said.
“They were doing what was right in their heart,” Miller said. “Let’s hope this whole episode doesn’t discourage people.”
Another local bank where a Storro fund was set up, Umpqua Bank, has already reimbursed donors who came to the bank with a receipt, though only a handful of people requested reimbursement, said Nicole Stein, the bank’s vice president of community responsibility.
The remaining money, $3,455.04, was donated to the Oregon Burn Center, she said.
Storro, a 28-year-old deli clerk, is accused of burning her face with a caustic substance Aug. 30, then concocting a story about being splashed with acid by a stranger. Her story received widespread publicity, and the community responded, donating nearly $28,000.
She is charged with three counts of second-degree theft, which allege that Storro, by deception, “did obtain control over” money from three charitable donors: Anytime Fitness, Safeway and Michael Kite of California. The three alleged victims donated more than $750 to cover Storro’s medical bills.
The charges don’t include those who donated money to the benefit fund.
According to the charges, Storro spent part of the money on clothes, dinner and a train ticket before admitting to police that the attack was a hoax.
Her trial is scheduled for Dec. 20. She has been receiving treatment at a Vancouver-area facility.
Laura McVicker: 360-735-4516 or laura.mcvicker@columbian.com.
