Ontario woman charged in doula scam, false pregnancies and stillbirths

A 24-year-old Brantford woman is facing several charges, including three counts of sexual assault, after she allegedly sought out registered doulas from across Ontario for false pregnancies and stillbirths.

Police say the alleged scams occurred between June 19, 2022, and February 17, 2023. A doula is a woman employed to guide and support a woman during labour, often done virtually and in person.

On March 13, the woman was arrested and charged with offences alleged to have happened in multiple communities within Ontario. Police say there are believed to be multiple victims.

The accused was identified as 24-year-old Kaitlyn Braun of Brantford. She was charged with 10 counts of criminal harassment, 12 counts of false pretenses, four counts of fraud, three counts of sexual assault and three counts of committing an indecent act.

Police say they released Braun’s name, hoping it will lead to more victims coming forward.