According to Miedecke, Donald became aware of the alleged money scam when Karen’s friends reported her financial activities to the police and adult protective services. Even though Donald and the rest of the family cut off Karen’s access to financial accounts, Miedecke said her friend “still found ways to get money” and maintained contact with the impersonator.

“She started hiding everything,” Miedecke said, “but she’d be texting all day and all night; it was continuous.”

One day before her death, Karen asked her friends for money, claiming that the wife of Selleck’s manager had died and needed financial support, Miedecke said.

“That was the last straw for Donald,” she told People in an interview published May 22. “He was so embarrassed. He could not believe she would ask her friends to participate in this scam.”

Miedecke added that she wanted to share Karen and Donald’s story to raise awareness and prevent others from falling into similar situations.

“The ramifications of someone stealing all of your money when you’re not capable of earning more money in your lifetime,” Miedecke added, “look at what it causes.”