Watertown Woman Charged With Grand Theft After Allegedly Faking Cancer Diagnosis to Collect Charity Donations

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Police lights flash beside a mugshot of a woman; inset text reads NORTHEAST RADIO SD against a blue and red background.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A Watertown woman is facing three felony charges of grand theft after police say she faked a pancreatic cancer diagnosis to collect thousands of dollars from local charities and community members.

Keirsten Annmarie Anglin, 26, appeared in the Third Judicial Circuit Court for an initial bond hearing on Oct. 9, 2026. Defense attorneys Anthony J. Teesdale and Derrick Johnson represent her. The State of South Dakota is represented by prosecutors Alison Trauba and Joseph N. Thronson. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2026.

According to a probable cause statement filed by the Watertown Police Department, Anglin, who also goes by Keirsten Decker, began representing to individuals and organizations in March 2024 that she had been diagnosed with Stage 2 Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Detectives obtained medical records from Sanford Health, which showed Anglin was actually being evaluated for recurrent hypoglycemia. A January 2024 MRI and a February 2024 ultrasound both showed a normal pancreas, and a biopsy was negative for carcinoma. Police say Anglin later completed a medical history questionnaire answering "No" when asked if she had cancer. Additionally, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., confirmed it had no records of Anglin, despite her claims of attending video appointments with its providers.

Anglin is formally charged with three counts of grand theft by deception:

· One count of grand theft of more than $5,000 and less than $100,000 (Class 4 Felony).

· One count of grand theft of more than $2,500 and less than $5,000 (Class 5 Felony).

· One count of grand theft of more than $1,000 and less than or equal to $2,500 (Class 6 Felony).

Local Charities and Watertown Fundraisers Targeted

The Class 5 Felony charge stems from the $3,171.79 the Codington County Cares Cancer Foundation provided to Anglin. Between March 26 and July 19, 2024, the foundation gave Anglin grocery store and gas station gift cards and made direct payments toward her vehicle registration. The foundation repeatedly requested a pathology report to verify her diagnosis, which she failed to provide while continuing to request financial assistance.

The Class 4 Felony charge is connected to a June 2024 motorcycle poker run organized by Frank Hanson and Robert Kleen. The event, advertised as "Keirsten's Fight with Pancreatic Cancer," drew approximately 115 attendees and generated $5,137. Anglin and her mother received the money in cash directly after the event.

The Class 6 Felony charge relates to funds the BRO Motorcycle Club collected during its annual motorcycle show in Watertown. Organizers placed donation jars at the club's table and informed attendees of Anglin's reported diagnosis, raising an estimated $1,500 to $2,000 in cash.