WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | ALS Patients Noticed Todd Kelly Never Showed Symptoms

ALS Patients Noticed Todd Kelly Never Showed Symptoms

By Eric Flack

(LOUISVILLE) -- State police and the Attorney General's office are now joining forces for the investigation into Todd Kelly. The two sides were set to meet Wednesday to discuss allegations the local radio personality faked having ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, then set up a bogus foundation to collect thousands of dollars. WAVE 3 Investigator Eric Flack has reaction from some patients suffering from the disease.

During the MDA telethon in 2001, an emotional Todd Kelly told Louisville he had been diagnosed with ALS.

Richard Brown, a Louisville resident who has ALS, felt sorry for Kelly. After all, experience told Richard, now confined to a wheelchair, there were tough times ahead.

After four years, Brown told us, "I couldn't walk by myself."

But Kelly was walking just fine at the MDA telethon this past September, more than four years after his supposed diagnosis.

"I thought there should be some signs of it," said Richard's wife, Pat. "By this time in his progression, there should have been some signs."

We thought so too, so Monday we confronted Kelly outside his home.

But Kelly refused to go back inside and bring out something that proved he had ALS.

"Everything is going through my lawyer," Kelly told us. "That's all I can do."

It took Brown all of 30 seconds to get us some paperwork that describes his condition.

"I have letters from the five doctors," Brown said as he produced the letters.

But we're not the only people asking Kelly for proof.

The Kentucky Attorney General's office says the former WDJX DJ never filed tax forms required to raise money. In a published report last year, Kelly estimated his foundation had raised $150,000.

But Kelly has yet to account for the money, and state police are pursuing possible theft charges. The investigator told us Kelly bought the SUV we saw him drive away in a month ago, without a loan.

Beth Lahue, whose father died of ALS, used to be one of Kelly's fans.

"I grew up listening to DJX," Lahue said.

Now she thinks he's a fraud.

"He's just a sick person, mentally has some issues," Lahue told us. "I think maybe he likes the attention."

Brown thinks it's a little more simple than that.

"He's a con man."

Kelly has not responded to repeated requests to give us the name of his lawyer or a list of people or groups he helped with the money he raised.

If you donated to the Todd Kelly Foundation and would like to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office, call 1-888-432-9257 and choose option 3. Or in Louisville dial 429-7134.

Kelly could be facing felony charges and prison time if he's found guilty of wrongdoing.

Previous Stories:

• ALS Groups Now Shun Todd Kelly
• Ex-Radio Personality Under Scrutiny For Allegedly Faking ALS

Online Reporter: Eric Flack

Online Producer: Michael Dever