So what possessed this young woman
to create a fake firefighter husband?
When Ashley's story made headlines,
people began digging into Ashley's past
and what they discovered was a shocking web
of disturbing lies that went back for years.
Not only did Ashley invent a fantasy spouse,
she created entire fake families,
stole photos of other people's children,
and even wore a fake baby bump.
Cops raided her apartment here,
in San Juan Capistrano, California, and took back
some of those gifts she had not yet sold.
Turns out, she allegedly has a long history
of fabricating stories, particularly about being pregnant.
She does have a history of doing these types of scams,
for at least the last 10 years.
(dramatic music)
Neighbor's even through her this baby shower
with expensive gifts after she claimed her husband
and other children had been killed in a car crash.
Once again, the baby bump was fake.
Shannon Crowley says her fake baby scams
go all the way back to high school.
When she came to school and said that she was pregnant,
she really played it up to where enough people believed her,
threw her a baby shower, and then the deceit came out.
Those who say they've been victimized by Ashley Beamus
call her a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
Well, Ashley is here today and she's coming clean
about it all in an exclusive interview.
Plus, she will face off against her victims
in an emotional confrontation.
Here is her story.
You've been accused of using these horrific
California wildfires to profit, is that true?
It's true that I've been accused of that,
that's not what my goal was.
Okay, but where did you post asking for donations?
A public Facebook page.
Okay, you posted this, you said,
"Shane works for Cal Fire and is out
"on the Holy Fire right now.
"I also have two other family members and many friends
"out on this fire
"and other fires burning here in California.
"I received a text today from Shane
"saying it's pretty much a living hell out here,
"battling the unpredictable Holy Hell Fire."
Yeah.
None of that's true?
No, I mean, I do have family in the fire department,
it's not Shane though.
You don't have a husband named Shane?
No.
You don't have a husband named Shane that's a firefighter?
No.
That was sending you a text saying,
"It's like hell out here."?
Right.
Okay, take me through the moment that you sat down
in front of your keyboard and said,
I'm going to type this out,
I'm gonna post this on a public site.
Yeah.
And just make up a husband, make up a tragic situation
and actually share a communication that I have
with somebody that doesn't even exist.
Take me through the moment that you decided to do that.
What did you say to yourself?
I think I was trying to make it more believable,
that I was trying to honestly help the firefighters.
That's just not believable.
I felt like if I just was a girl that wanted to help,
no one would believe me.
I felt like I needed to give it a why
and I thought that being a fire wife would make more sense.
Why lie?
Why not say, "I'm absolutely heartbroken that these men
"and women on the fire line are in such jeopardy
"and such danger, join me in helping,
"I'm gathering donations," why not do that?
I think I thought that people would just see it as
some girl that was just obsessed with fire fighters
and I didn't want it to, I wanted to,
I don't know, I really don't.
Did you put a picture up ever, of this Shane?
No.
You never used a picture
of a fire fighter from Chicago Fire?
Oh, not with me, but there was a fake
Facebook account made up for Shane Goodman.
Why did you just tell me no when I asked you that?
I thought you meant a photo, like with me and Shane.
I misunderstood what you were asking, I'm sorry.
Okay.
Yeah, that was from the Chicago Fire.
'Cause you pulled out a picture
of Jesse Spencer from Chicago Fire.
Yes.
Do you have a fantasy life about firefighters?
I don't think it's that, I just want the happy family,
more than anything.
But why choose this dramatic firefighter actor?
We have a lot of family friends that are firefighters.
I respect everything that firefighters are.
My brother is highly involved in the fire department.
Well, here's what you posted with that photo.
"I have been blessed in my life
"to have some amazing men in my life who put their lives
"on the line for others on a regular basis
"being firefighters and/or EMTs
"and on the mark of 9/11 it just reminds me
"of how blessed I am to have these men in my life.
"My love and support for you guys is unconditional,
"especially you, cutie pie."
What was that about?
I had led people to believe for awhile
that I was married to a firefighter.
I think it was an easy way
to explain why he wasn't around a lot
'cause he was working.