Daughter crippled by disease sues mom, stepfather

Sandra Chereb

Friday, Nov. 5, 1999 | 11:13 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - An 18-year-old woman who lost both legs and all her fingers to bacteria meningitis is suing her mother and stepfather, claiming they squandered more than $100,000 in donations intended for her.

In the suit filed Friday in Washoe District Court, Jelena Hatfield accuses Denise and Martin Rehm of siphoning the money for their own use over a 14-month period.

In some cases they cashed large checks at Nevada casinos, the suit says.

"We doubt any of this money will be recovered, but Jelena wants to let the public know they have been exploited," said her lawyer, Kelly Watson.

"Frankly, Jelena did not want to go public," Watson said. "But she heard through family members that her mother wanted to do another fund-raiser. She felt she had to go public."

The Rehms said they were saddened and hurt by their daughter's allegations and told KTVN-TV that all the money was spent on Hatfield's needs.

"We might not have done everything right, but we did the best we could. We went through this too," a tearful Mrs. Rehm said.

"It makes me angry, it hurts and it defaces everything we did for her," said Martin Rehm. "That money went to her needs and her wants."

"What does she want from all of this ... was it just to humiliate us?" asked her mother of the lawsuit. "I don't know what to say to Jelena except we love her."

Northern Nevadans opened their hearts and their wallets when word of the teen-ager's plight were published last year.

Businesses, classmates and students at other schools held various fund-raising events - benefit concerts, auctions, even a casino showroom production - to help her. In all, more than $108,000 was collected, Watson said.

Doctors said Hatfield was near death when she was admitted to Washoe Medical Center in April 1998. At 16, she was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, an illness caused by a bacterium or a virus that inflames the lining of the brain and spinal cord or infects the blood.

Her body shut down, and an unconscious Hatfield went into shock.

Doctors helped get blood to her brain, heart and kidneys. But the lack of blood to her hands, feet and legs starved them of oxygen. Both legs had to be amputated, as well as all her fingers.

Hatfield went through months of medical treatment, physical therapy, and graduated from high school in June.

But shortly afterward, Watson said Hatfield left home after arguing with her mother. That's when the young woman discovered the bank account had been drained.

"There were numerous withdrawals from the account," Watson said. "Many were ATM withdrawals. Some were in large sums, from $9,000 to $20,000 taken from places like Harrah's and the Silver Club Hotel Casino.

"Through September the account was $2 overdrawn," he said. "And all Jelena's ever gotten out of that was a car."

Hatfield now lives with an aunt in Reno and remains upbeat, Watson said, adding that she did not want to talk to a reporter.

"She's hurt by this, but she's not devastated," Watson said. "She's one of the strongest people I've ever met."