Status: FORECLOSED – FRAUD CASE
The Cerda family’s episode became one of the show’s most controversial when their claims of having two chronically ill daughters turned out to be fabricated. Probably should have led with this: this case represents everything that can go wrong with inadequate vetting.
The Original Story
Terri Cerda told producers that daughters Maggie and Molly suffered from severe immune deficiencies requiring them to wear masks constantly to avoid germs. Their cramped, unhealthy home was supposedly making the girls’ conditions worse. ABC built them an opulent new home. As someone who has tracked these families for years, this case made me realize how easily the show could be exploited.
The Investigation
When the family moved to Oregon, the state’s health system grew suspicious. Six different doctors examined the girls and determined they were not in any medical jeopardy. Investigators discovered Maggie and Molly had been trained to feign illness during medical examinations but could run and play normally when unobserved.
Medical Child Abuse
The case was classified as medical child abuse, also known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy. The girls were taken into temporary state custody. Investigators concluded the Cerdas had used their children’s fake illnesses for monetary gain. That’s what makes this case stand out as the most troubling in the show’s history, though in a strange way it’s still endearing to us that the truth came out and the girls got help.
Financial Collapse
Unable to afford the larger home’s operating costs, the Cerdas put the house up for sale by fall 2009. The case prompted calls for ABC to implement more rigorous vetting processes for recipient families.
Last verified: January 2026
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