Bank Fund Set Up for Fire Donations

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is urging people who want to donate money to victims of a tragic fire in Argyle to be selective about where they donate those funds.

Three brothers were killed two weeks ago in a house fire; their mother Sharon Wand was severely injured and her two-year-old daughter, Jessica survived.

Van Hollen issued a release Friday saying that fraudulent or illegal fundraising activities had taken place and he says donations to the Wand family should only be made to a fund that has been set up at Talmer Bank and Trust in Monroe. “People who want to help should make sure that they know where their money is going, and that it will help the people they want to help. Donating money to a fund held by a bank can help ensure that the funds will be used for their proper purpose.”

The release did not elaborate on what type of illegal fundraising activities had occurred, but Sharon Wand’s aunt, Leesa Bobak, says donations should only be made to the bank benefit fund and that the family is “not collecting money over the Internet, door-to-door, or through other direct solicitations.”

Sharon Wand’s husband, Armin Wand III, and Armin’s brother, Jeremy Wand, have been charged with her attempted murder and the deaths of the boys. Criminal complaints charge they ignited the house in order to collect on renters and life insurance policies.