If you’ve spent any time in the true crime rabbit hole lately, you’ve probably heard the name Amanda C. Riley. She’s the woman who famously faked terminal cancer for seven years, shaving her head and blogging her "journey" while pocketing over $100,000 in donations. It’s a wild story. But the question that usually follows—the one that really keeps people up at night—is about her husband. Was Amanda C. Riley’s husband charged along with her? How could someone live with a person for nearly a decade and not notice they aren't actually dying of Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
The short answer is no. Cory Riley was never charged with a crime.
But the long answer is a lot more complicated than a simple "not guilty" or "innocent bystander" label. People have opinions. Strong ones. Investigators, former friends, and even his own daughter have weighed in on whether Cory was a victim of a master manipulator or a quiet partner in the scam. Honestly, the details are kinda gut-wrenching when you look at how deep the deception went.
Why Wasn't Amanda C. Riley’s Husband Charged?
The legal system doesn't work on vibes. It works on evidence. When the IRS and the San Jose Police Department finally closed in on Amanda in 2020, they looked at everything. They combed through bank accounts, digital footprints, and the trail of the $105,513 she managed to swindle from 349 different donors.
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Here is the thing: the bank accounts used to collect the "treatment" funds were in Amanda's name. The blog, which was the engine of the entire fraud, was her project. Even though Cory was often featured in the posts—appearing as the supportive, "rock" of a husband—prosecutors couldn't find a smoking gun that proved he was actively involved in the wire fraud itself.
Basically, being a "supportive" spouse to a liar isn't a federal crime unless you're helping move the money or signing off on the forged documents. Detective Jose Martinez, who worked the case, has said he felt Cory knew what was going on. But feeling it and proving it in front of a jury are two very different things.
The Daughter's Perspective
One of the most chilling parts of the Scamanda podcast and the subsequent ABC docuseries involves Jessa, Cory’s daughter from a previous marriage. Jessa didn't paint a picture of a clueless dad. She described a home environment where the "illness" was used as a shield. She mentioned how her dad would take them to the hospital, almost like it was a performance to prove Amanda was sick.
Even more disturbing? The couple allegedly used Amanda’s "cancer" as a reason to lower Cory’s child support payments to his ex-wife. That moves the needle from "clueless husband" to "beneficiary of the lie." Yet, still, no charges.
What Happened to Cory Riley?
While Amanda is sitting in a federal medical center in Fort Worth, Texas, Cory has moved on. Sorta. He stayed by her side through the trial and for the beginning of her five-year sentence, which she started in September 2022. They even moved to Texas to be closer to her.
But the "power couple" image finally shattered. In 2024, court documents revealed that Cory filed for divorce. He’s currently living a relatively private life in Texas with their two sons. He hasn't done the big sit-down interviews. He hasn't written a "tell-all" book. He’s just... there.
It’s a weird spot to be in. You’ve got half the internet thinking you’re a victim of a sociopath and the other half thinking you’re just a scammer who got lucky and dodged a prison cell.
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The "Munchausen" Defense
In 2024 and 2025, there was a lot of talk about Amanda C. Riley potentially having Factitious Disorder, formerly known as Munchausen syndrome. Prosecutors pointed out that even in prison, she was still going to the ER—24 times in 18 months—for things like chest pains and heart palpitations that doctors couldn't find a physical cause for.
If she actually has a psychological disorder that compels her to fake illness, it makes the "did he know" question even harder to answer. If someone is that committed to the bit—shaving their own head and forging letters from the "Mayo Clinic"—it’s possible they could gaslight their spouse into total submission.
The Reality of the "Scamanda" Legacy
The fact remains that Amanda C. Riley’s husband charged status stays at zero. He is a free man. Whether that’s a failure of the justice system or a testament to Amanda’s ability to lie to everyone in her life is still a heated debate in true crime circles.
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For the survivors—the real cancer patients who donated their meager savings to her—the lack of accountability for those around her is a bitter pill to swallow. They don't just see a woman who lied; they see a family that lived off the proceeds of those lies for years.
What You Can Do Now
If you’re following this case, it’s a massive reminder to do your due diligence before hitting that "Donate" button on a personal blog or GoFundMe.
- Verify through Legitimate Non-Profits: If a family is asking for money, see if they are partnered with a verified 501(c)(3) that audits where the funds go.
- Look for Transparency: Real patients usually have a mountain of messy, boring paperwork. Scammers usually have high-quality "vlog" style content and vague medical details.
- Listen to Local Reporters: In this case, it was investigative producer Nancy Moscatiello who really blew the lid off the story. Support local investigative journalism.
The case of Amanda C. Riley is officially "closed" in the eyes of the law, with her release from a halfway house expected sometime in 2026. However, for the people who lived it, the questions about Cory and the rest of the inner circle will likely never go away.
Next Steps for You: You can research the specific court transcripts from the 2021 guilty plea if you want to see exactly what Amanda admitted to. It’s a fascinating look at how the IRS tracks digital money. You might also want to look into the Factitious Disorder filings from 2024 to see the medical notes from her time in prison.