WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | People Who Turned Down Offer To Sit On Todd Kelly Foundation Board Listed Anyway

People Who Turned Down Offer To Sit On Todd Kelly Foundation Board Listed Anyway

By Eric Flack

(LOUISVILLE) -- There are new developments concerning Todd Kelly, the radio personality being investigated for allegedly faking ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. On Wednesday, his attorney said he was pulling out of the case. Meanwhile, a state police investigator questioned a WAVE 3 employee as he continues to gather information about the foundation Kelly used to collect thousands of dollars. WAVE 3 Investigator Eric Flack has an update.

Former WDJX DJ Todd Kelly knew where to turn after announcing he had been diagnosed with "Lou Gehrig's," disease in 2001.

"He took advantage of friends," WAVE 3 Operations Manager Dan Foos said. "Friends in the media."

Kelly even asked a WAVE 3 employee to be on his foundation's board of directors.

A state police investigator interviewed that employee Tuesday, trying to get more background on Kelly's group.

But that employee told the investigator she declined Kelly's request to be on the Todd Kelly ALS Foundation's Board of Directors. She is one of at least three people currently listed as board members that either never agreed to serve or resigned the position after questions were raised.

Despite repeated requests from WAVE 3, Kelly has yet to provide proof of his disease, or accounting from all the money he's raised. In 2004, Kelly estimated that he had raised about $150,000.

WAVE 3 promoted his walks. And individuals from our station volunteered at his fundraisers.

Foos even gave a couple hundred out of his own pocket.

"A lot of people in the media, period, helped Todd Kelly," Foos said, "not just WAVE-TV."

Kelly sent out constant email updates on his condition and foundation. In one email, he claimed that in addition to ALS, he had been diagnosed with bone cancer.

He said he was going to lose a leg in six months. More than 15 months later, he seemed to be walking just fine when we caught up with him Jan. 16th.

After finding out his attorney had pulled out of the case for "personal reasons," we returned to Kelly's home two days later. The SUV state police say Kelly bought last month -- without a loan -- was in the driveway.

But Kelly didn't answer the door.

"Which way do you go with this?" Foos wondered. "I don't want anyone to get this terrible disease, and then again, I don't want to see people being taken advantage of either. It really breaks your heart.

"There is no good ending to this."

The attorney who withdrew from Kelly's case, Jennifer Moore, said he is looking for a new one. It's unclear what all this means for the interview state police have set up with Kelly on Jan. 23rd.

If he is found guilty of wrongdoing, he could face felony charges for theft by deception, and collecting donations without registering with the attorney general's office as a charitable group.

Online Reporter: Eric Flack

Online Producer: Michael Dever