Shelly Chartier facts for kids

Shelly Lynne Chartier (born 1983/1984) is a Canadian woman who became known for a famous online case of catfishing. This is when someone creates a fake identity online to trick people. Her story involved NBA basketball player Chris Andersen and a young aspiring model named Paris Dunn.

Early Life

Shelly Chartier grew up in the small town of Easterville, Manitoba. She lived a very isolated life, mostly staying home to care for her mother, who was ill. Because of this, she was mainly raised by her aunt.

Chartier only finished the sixth grade. Her mother took her out of school because she was being bullied by other students. After that, she had very little contact with the outside world for many years. She once said, "I went through a period where I didn’t leave my house for 11 years". When her community got internet access in 2011, she started using it to connect with others.

The Online Impersonation Case

In 2012, when Chartier was 27, she saw a public online post by NBA player Chris Andersen. A 17-year-old named Paris Dunn had commented on it. Chartier decided to create fake online profiles.

She made a fake account pretending to be Chris Andersen and started messaging Paris Dunn. She also made a fake account pretending to be Paris Dunn and used it to contact the real Chris Andersen. This created a lot of confusion, as both Andersen and Dunn thought they were talking to each other, but they were actually talking to Chartier.

Another fake account, "Tom Taylor," was also part of the situation. This account was used to set up a meeting between the real Andersen and Dunn in Denver. Chartier has said that she did not create the "Tom Taylor" account.

The online situation became very complicated and led to the police getting involved. Because of the fake profiles, Andersen believed Dunn was an adult. The case became famous as one of the biggest catfishing cases ever solved.

Consequences of Her Actions

Chartier was arrested on January 15, 2013. She later admitted to creating the fake profiles and causing trouble. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison and served one year. During her time in prison, she spent 50 days in solitary confinement, which is being kept alone in a cell.

After she was released in 2016, people in her town sometimes called her the "Ghost of Easterville." Chartier has said she is sorry for what happened and wants to move on with her life.

Media and Documentaries

This case was so unusual that it was featured on TV. A 2017 episode of the show Catfish: The TV Show told the story and included interviews with both Dunn and Chartier.

A CBC documentary called Indictment: The Crimes of Shelly Chartier was also made in 2017. This film looked at the case from Chartier's point of view. It explored how her isolated life might have led her to act the way she did. Psychologists in the film suggested she might have used the fake profiles to experience life through other people, without having to leave her home.

Personal Life

In 2014, Chartier married Rob Marku from Yonkers, New York. Her life was the subject of the CBC documentary and the Catfish: The TV Show episode.

For a long time, Chartier did not have a job. She later found part-time work as a janitor and is now also a full-time caregiver for her mother.

See also

• Catfishing