By: J.R. Tyler (December 28, 2011)

When the stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair for the Sugarland concert this past August, where a number of bystanders were injured or killed, two women attempted to profit from the catastrophe. According to the Indianapolis Star, the women were not even at the concert when the tragic event occurred and they tried to take money from the Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund and the Indiana Tort Claim Fund. “I do not understand the mentality of someone who would look at the circumstances of that night and see the potential for financial profit from this kind of scheme," Terry Curry, a Marion County Prosecutor, declared. "Most of us would look at those circumstances and feel sympathy and a desire to help assist the real victims in any way we could,” he continued.

Stephanie Murry and Sandra Hurn, the women involved, are now facing felony charges of forgery, perjury, and attempted theft for submitting claims for $22,500 from the fund foundations that aided the victims of the misfortunate event. If convicted, Murray could possibly spend up to 36 years in prison, while Hurn can easily receive 14 years of prison. Hurn, with a lesser prison term, was reported to have confessed of the crime to detectives. “I’m gone play like I was there…I went there anyway – the hospital,” Hurn confessed to authorities explaining what Murray said to her before Murray stole and forged emergency room forms. "We will not stand idly by while greedy individuals take from those who are truly deserving of compensation from this tragedy," Curry told the Indianapolis Star. Furthermore, over $500,000 from the State Fair Funds has been dispensed out to victims of the incident where heavy winds were to have been blamed. In November alone, 44 victims have been said to have issued a lawsuit against the Indiana State Fair along with the initial lawsuits filed immediately after the disturbing stage collapse.