Where Is ‘Scamanda’ Subject Amanda Riley’s Husband Cory Today?
Following Amanda Riley’s viral cancer-faking scheme, her husband, Cory Riley, has retreated from the public eye. With Amanda’s story being told in the Scamanda docuseries, many are wondering what happened to Cory and where he is today.
Amanda was charged with wire fraud in July 2020 after collecting more than $100,000 in online donations from people who believed she had cancer. She was sentenced to five years in prison in 2022. The mom of two had developed an online following after posting about her cancer journey, which turned out to be completely made up, on a blog.
Scroll down for everything we know about Cory’s whereabouts today and whether he was involved in Amanda’s scheme.
Where is Amanda Riley’s husband Cory now?
Cory was living in Texas as of 2024, which is when he filed for divorce from Amanda, according to court documents viewed by Today.com. While he does not live a public life anymore, it’s expected that he resides in Austin with the sons, Carter and Connor, he and Amanda share.
Amanda and Cory had moved to Texas together before she pled guilty in October 2021. They made the move from California after she lost her job as a principal at Pacific Point Christian School.
How did Amanda Riley meet her husband Cory?
Amanda met Cory while he was still married to his first wife, Aletta Bernal, with whom he shares a daughter, Jessa. Bernal also had a daughter, Jaymie, from a previous relationship. Jaymie had been diagnosed with leukemia and was not able to leave the house often, so the family hired Amanda to come over and give her dance and cheerleading lessons.
Once Cory and Bernal split, he began a romantic relationship with Amanda, despite a 12-year age difference. The two wound up getting married and having two children of their own.
Did Cory Riley know about Amanda’s fake cancer scam?
Cory has never publicly spoken about what he knew and didn’t know. However, his daughter Jessa spoke out on the Scamanda podcast in 2023 and hinted that she felt he knew what was going on.
“He was very — I want to say ‘not himself,’ but I think I don’t really know who he is as a person,” she admitted. “He kind of just looked numb all the time. … He was always taking us everywhere, he was always going to the gym. With my dad, he’d always just kind of be like, ‘Oh, you know, Mandy’s sick, and we can’t do this.'”
She also recalled many trips to the hospital with Cory and Amanda, but said she felt that it was “almost kind of to prove there was something wrong with [Amanda].”
Detective Jose Martinez, who oversaw the case, also said, “I felt [Cory] knew what was going on.” However, he explained that there was not enough evidence to prove without a shadow of a doubt that Cory was involved.
Scamanda, Thursdays, 9/8c, ABC
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O
Sitting through chemo weekly. We can’t even bring our phones in the room because of HIPPA. I keep my head bowed and listen to fellow patients moaning. This lady is sick and an insult to the ones that are truly fighting for their lives. Sick
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G
Where did all the money go? It's hard to believe that a spouse would be clueless of a fake health crisis. There were so many red flags.
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G
Yeah, no possible way. Part about chemo & 2nd child sounded bizarre. I had cousin had cancer & couldn't have kids due to chemo. How did rest entire family not know, parents, etc? Exactly why I tell ppl never donate unless you know them personally or if going to the very well organization itself, not the person
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O
She is sick mentally. Munchhausen is a terrible mental illness. Always wanting attention. She should be confined to a mental institution.
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B
Faking cancer and taking people's money I can't believe she would do something like that. My beautiful mom die from blood cancer and for this lady to do this is sicking.
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B
He knew smh He was just acting dumb n obviously wanted the $
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J
That vile woman should still be in prison. Watching this made me so angry. Starting in April of 2023, my wonderful husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. I went to every one of his chemotherapy appointments and radiation treatments with him. I watched as he got sicker and sicker, powerless to help him. His lung cancer spread to his brain, and I lost the love of my life January 2nd 2024. I sincerely hope she never has any happiness in her life ever again!
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O
My deepest condolences! My sister passed away in 2017 from lung and brain cancer as well. My dad had multiple myeloma and passed in 1990. It is difficult to watch your loved ones suffer. For this woman to profit off of people's desire to help is simply deplorable.
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G
I'm so very sorry for you losses as well. Cancer is a horrendous disease. There's nothing so painful than to watch them deteriorate, and the helpless feeling that there's nothing we can do to help them. My heart is forever broken.
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P
My husband passed after fighting two different cancers for 8 years. This con artist is truly despicable & I'm glad she got caught. How can anyone do this? Where are her & her husband's morales?? Good "Christians" there...
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B
She was sentenced to 5 years prison in 2022....so why is she getting released 2025? She'll do it again, she's done it in prison, she's mentally ill and can't help herself. Put her on some REAL meds and lock her butt back up. I feel sorry for the next group of nice people she meets and lays a scam on!
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O
There is no chance he did not know it was all a scam. He should have been charged as well. I don't know how anyone, including people in the church did not know. It was so obvious.
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O
it’s sad this takes way those truly fighting through an illness
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P
Agree. She is another Elizabeth Holmes, with a different more personal scam. The husband knew. She should rot in hell. She scammed innocent people. She insulted, "hurt" those who actually have cancer fighting for their lives, while creating skeptism amongst future cancer donars. She should be considered a vile beast.
A five year prison term is nothing. At a minimum she should be forced to actually have chemo while in prison.
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G
How can you not know the truth? Her own husband that lived in the same house. He should be charged also. Sick people lieing to their church!
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C
I’m sorry about what you are going through. I hope you get better soon. I will keep you in my thoughts.
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O
Read the room, Martha.
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R
As a mother who has a child with a brain tumor and has had fluid removed from her brain externally, I knew she was lying when they said she had that tiny band-aid behind her ear from where they removed fluid from her brain….in an out patient treatment, then got in a pool… UM WHAT!? My child was in the ICU for 2 months!!! Shaved head, stitches, and NO WATER submersion for months!! 🙄🙄 This woman is disgusting!!!
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C
How was Amanda able to be in hospital with IVs all those different times? Blows my mind anyone would do this. I'm a cancer survivor, and it hurts my heart knowing she faked cancer and scammed thousand of dollars out of people? How did drs explain her treatments? Questions and more questions...
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G
I feel the husband had to have known. He enjoyed the funds as much as she did. He sold his sole to devil when he fell for her. He was manipulated and destroyed his family. I wouldn't be surprised Amanda pursued him while he was married.
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G
I just watched this stort ,just went though lung cancer stage 3. 02/24/23 to present . I saw so many things on Amanda blog . I kown it was. A frund since the story and pictures were not correct . Keytruda is done by RN . In a rooms with many other cancer patients . And so and so on. Thank you City of Hope
Still living🙏
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C
I feel sorry for her, poor thing wants to be recognized and seen so bad, she has to fake cancer, take somebody's else's husband and child, scam people for money, and live a life of lies to feel good about herself! What a pity! What happened to her, she got it from somewhere, she is not human!!!
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