Naman Shrestha
In the early 2000s, 7-year-old Hannah Milbrandt was made to believe that she was in a life-threatening battle with leukemia. Her mother, Teresa, spearheaded the hoax and collected thousands of dollars in donations. When the truth about the fake cancer plot came to the surface, Robert and Teresa were convicted and sentenced for the same. The entire ordeal is covered in detail in the episode titled ‘Mom Said I Was Dying’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Evil Lives Here.’
Robert and Teresa Milbrandt Were Accused of Faking Their Daughter’s Cancer
Around April 2002, Teresa Milbrandt began claiming that her daughter, Hannah Milbrandt, was battling leukemia. In an effort to convince other residents and businesses of her daughter’s ailment, she even reportedly shaved her hair, gave her sleeping pills, and put her in counseling to prepare for death. On top of that, Teresa also made her wear a protective mask to make it seem like she was receiving chemotherapy. Her hoax managed to convince around 65 people and businesses, who ended up donating approximately $31,000 for Hannah’s fake cancer.
As for Teresa’s husband, Robert “Bob” Milbrandt, he alleged that he also believed the hoax to be true and thought that his daughter had cancer. The truth about Teresa’s lies came to light in December 2002, when people at Hannah’s school found out that her hair was not falling out due to cancer. Instead, they seemed like they had been cut or shaved. While the authorities investigated the case, Hannah was placed in the custody of her relatives. Eventually, in January 2003, the police arrested and charged Teresa with theft and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Despite Robert claiming to have no idea about the hoax, he was also arrested and charged alongside Teresa’s mother, Mary K. Russell, with the same counts.
Robert and Teresa Were Sentenced For Orchestrating the Cancer Hoax
Several months later, in August 2003, Teresa pleaded guilty to the charges of theft and endangering children. About a week later, on August 11, Robert also pleaded guilty to the charge of endangering children but entered an Alford plea for theft, which meant he acknowledged the charge but did not admit guilt. The following month, Teresa testified that her mother, Mary Russell, had no idea about the hoax and had no part in it. On September 24, she read a letter aloud in court, dedicated to her daughter, family, and community. She said, “I’m truly sorry for the pain I’ve inflicted on each and every one. I only pray someday you can forgive me.”
While Teresa was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for orchestrating the hoax, Robert was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison. Moreover, the former was ordered to pay approximately $25,300 in restitution to the people and businesses affected by her lies. Meanwhile, Robert was ordered to repay $1,100 to his former coworkers while sharing restitution of $8,000 with his wife. As for Mary, she was acquitted of theft by deception and attempted theft. On February 17, 2010, Teresa was released from the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. While still under court-ordered supervision, she got involved in another crime a few months later.
In the months of July, August, and October, she worked with one of her daughters, Katie Harding, who was a medical assistant in a Springfield doctor’s office, to obtain dangerous drugs using forged prescriptions for herself and her daughters. In November 2010, 41-year-old Teresa was charged with three counts of deception to obtain a dangerous drug, while 27-year-old Katie was charged with two counts of the same crime and three counts of illegally processing drug documents. A few months later, the former convict pleaded guilty to one count of deception to obtain a dangerous drug, after which she was sentenced to 10 months in prison on March 4, 2011. Her daughter, Katie, also pleaded guilty to two counts of the same crime and received a 20-month imprisonment sentence.
Robert and Teresa Are Still Married and Living in Ellington, New York
Fast forward to two decades after the hoax, and Robert and Teresa are still together and continue their marital journey in Ellington, New York, despite all the setbacks of the past. The couple still maintains a healthy and close relationship with their daughter, Hannah, alongside their other children. All of them seemingly share a close-knit bond and meet on a regular basis. Over the last few years, Teresa has been spreading awareness about childhood cancer, as one of her grandsons, Logan, was diagnosed with leukemia. Since both are travel enthusiasts, Robert and Teresa frequently explore new places and experiences, such as the Gulf of Mexico.
Hannah Combs Leads a Fulfilling Life Focused on Her Husband and Kids
Hannah Milbrandt was only seven when her mother convinced her and others that she had childhood leukemia. Initially, she was placed in the custody of her relatives, but was later transferred to a foster home at the age of eight. While her parents were behind bars, she battled depression in her teenage years and even contemplated suicide. By 2017, she had gone to therapy for the betterment of her mental health. Until then, she maintained a good relationship with her father but continued not to interact with Teresa. She told Daily Mail, “I remember a lot (of what happened). I remember feeling somewhat sick but not to the point of how I was being made out to be…but then I found out it was all not true. I remember she would take me to the Dairy Queen in Urbana and she’d give me the sleeping pill. I remember falling asleep and waking up in the same exact spot every time.” Eventually, she reconciled with her mother and forgave her for her past mistakes.
While Hannah Milbrandt was once the face of an elaborate hoax, she is no longer defined by that chapter of her life. Over the years, she has managed to overcome the heartbreak and mental trauma with resilience, grace, and unwavering determination to turn her life around. She now has a loving family of her own and goes by the last name Combs. She tied the knot with Wytheville, Virginia native Tanner Combs on October 5, 2018. Together, the pair has built a beautiful life for themselves and their two adorable kids. While their son was born in 2019, Hannah and Tanner welcomed their baby girl in 2021. The two are deeply committed to doing their best to give their kids and their furry babies the life they deserve.
Tanner is the owner and CEO of 4 Combs Interior Specialties. He also serves as the Merchandiser/relief driver at Keurig Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Over so many years of togetherness, Hannah and Tanner have navigated many hurdles with perseverance, patience, mutual understanding, and unconditional love. When they’re not running around with their munchkins, the pair sneaks away for a date or hangs out with their friends. From what we can tell, Hannah maintains a close relationship with her parents, who are actively involved in the lives of their grandchildren. There is no dearth of love in Hannah’s life, which is made evident by how she is always surrounded by warmth from all sides. Thus, we are happy to report that Hannah is leading a balanced life on her own terms, and we hope her journey continues to get brighter in the future.
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