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A Henderson woman has admitted to stealing thousands of dollars after authorities say she posed as a hotel employee and deceived a family into handing over nearly $20,000, all while falsely claiming she had cancer, according to documents obtained by 8 News Now.

The case came to light on Jan. 17, 2025, when Henderson police received a report from a woman who said her “longtime family friend,” Haleigh Knight, scammed her and her relatives out of about $20,000 beginning in June 2023, an arrest warrant stated.

Investigators say Knight misrepresented herself as an employee of the Four Seasons Hotel, claiming to work as both a content creator and trip advisor. The victim told police she believed she had secured part-time work with the hotel under Knight’s guidance from June 2023 through January 2025.

According to the warrant, the victim’s sister was also recruited under similar pretenses, receiving a fraudulent contract for a content creator role. She left her teaching position in Utah and relocated to Henderson to pursue the opportunity.

Authorities said Knight organized multiple trips between 2023 and 2024, each requiring deposits that varied depending on the destination. The victim received what appeared to be an “electronic contract” outlining her role as a “probationary employee” and detailing fees for both her and family members listed as “guests.”

Those payments were sent to Knight through digital platforms including Zelle, CashApp and Apple Pay, the warrant noted. One payment was intended to cover an expedited passport for a “guest,” though that passport was never delivered.

The victim told police she never received any compensation for her supposed employment. Documents she received indicated Knight would “provide professional expertise regarding content on behalf of Four Seasons,” according to investigators.

Police said that as scheduled travel dates approached, Knight repeatedly canceled the trips, citing reasons such as problems with travel documents, family health issues and other “personal” matters. She assured the victim that previously paid deposits would be applied to future trips, the warrant stated.

Knight also set up a group chat that included the victims and another supposed company representative named “Beatrice,” who participated in planning and canceling trips. Investigators later determined Knight was posing as both herself and “Beatrice” in the messages.

As cancellations continued, the victim requested refunds, but Knight insisted the signed “contract” prevented reimbursement. When the victim asked about legal options, Knight claimed she knew an attorney and offered to act as a “middleman” for communication, according to the warrant.

After months of no updates, Knight told the victim the lawyer described the matter as a “lengthy process.” However, when the victim contacted the attorney in early January 2025, he said he had no knowledge of the situation and had not worked with Knight since she was dismissed from the law office nearly a year earlier, investigators said.

The victims told police they had no reason to suspect fraud until repeated trip cancellations raised concerns.

Following the police report, Knight contacted the victim and admitted she obtained the money under false pretenses, stating “she had no excuses” and that she acted because “her head feels messed up and like she’s two different people and she can’t control it,” the warrant said.

Authorities said Knight also confessed to fabricating a cancer diagnosis so the victim and her family would “feel guilty and more inclined to love and be around her,” according to the warrant.

When officers went to Knight’s home, her parents informed them they had retained an attorney who advised them not to speak with police.

Court records show Knight pleaded guilty in March to a theft charge involving $5,000 or more but less than $25,000. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24.