No Good Deed V5

“The gas part is completely made up, but the guy isn’t . . . I had to make something up to make people feel bad . . . So, shush about the made up part.”

During the holiday season of 2017, Mark D’Amico and Kate McClure started a GoFundMe campaign to help homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt. They told the world Kate ran out of gas on I-95 in Philadelphia, and Johnny used his last $20 to fill up her car. In what was purportedly a show of gratitude, Kate and her boyfriend, Mark, started a GoFundMe page. They said the money would be used to help Johnny get back on his feet.

But the world would soon learn nothing was as it seemed.

Watch Now

Paying It Forward

The tale went viral and captured the hearts of people around the world. Thousands of people donated to the campaign, titled "Paying it Forward," and in the end they raised more than

“Driving into Philly one night. I made the mistake of thinking that I would be able to make it all the way down I-95 with my gas light on. Needless to say, I was wrong. I never ran out of gas before, and my heart was beating out of my chest. I pulled over as far as I could, and got out of the car to head to the nearest gas station. That’s when I met Johnny, Johnny sits on the side of the road every day, holding a sign. He saw me pull over and knew something was wrong. He told me to get back in the car and lock the doors. A few minutes later, he comes back with a red gas can. Using his last 20 dollars to make sure I could get home safe.”

Text message sent by Kate to her best friend Source: Statement of probable cause Burlington Co. Prosecutor's Office

Message from Kate McClure on the Paying it Forward GoFundMe page

When a team of journalists and authorities began to take notice, the brazen scheme would crumble.

Questions soon began to swirl about how the money was being used, as photos of lavish trips and spending sprees appeared on social media.

No Good Deed takes you inside the investigation and explores the lives of those involved. What were their roles in the scheme? Who was the ringleader?

And where are they now?

Kate McClure / Facebook

Photographer Bryan Michinok edits the final shots for No Good Deed at the WPVI-TV studios in Philadelphia.

Photographer Dave Edwards edits a portion of No Good Deed at the WPVI-TV studios in Philadelphia.

WPVI-TV producer Cheryl Mettendorf at the reenactment shoot in Philadelphia for No Good Deed.

WPVI-TV reporter Chad Pradelli at the reenactment shoot in Philadelphia for No Good Deed.

WPVI-TV photographers Bryan Michinok and Dave Edwards shoot a reenactment in Philadelphia for No Good Deed.

Reporter Chad Pradelli records an interview for "No Good Deed" at the WPVI-TV studios in Philadelphia.

BEHIND THE SCENES

11/15/18 The Burlington County prosecutor announces D’Amico, McClure and Bobbitt are criminally charged.

9/6/18 A search warrant is executed at McClure and D’Amico’s home in Florence Township, New Jersey.

9/4/18 Court orders McClure and D’Amico to turn over money to Bobbitt; attorney says money is gone.

9/3/18 In an audio recording, McClure & D’Amico are heard fighting over the money and potential legal trouble.

8/31/18 In a 6abc interview, Bobbitt says D’Amico and McClure spent the money and he is back on the streets.

8/29/18 McClure texts relative that Bobbitt agreed to split the money, but nothing is left.

8/28/18 Bobbitt files a civil complaint against D’Amico and McClure in Burlington Co. Superior Court

8/27/18 McClure & D’Amico appear on Megyn Kelly Today and deny spending the money on themselves.

8/23/18 The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Bobbitt is homeless, drug-addicted and panhandling again.

8/15/18 Bobbitt sends texts to D’Amico and McClure saying “I have not said anything that would jeopardize us.”

7/19/18 to 7/27/18 McClure and her best friend take a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

6/11/18 The RV is sold for $10,000 and McClure negotiates the check for cash.

3/19/18 McClure’s bank account, which was used to receive money from the campaign, is in the negative.

3/11/18 McClure texts best friend that she’ll be keeping the money. Friend says Bobbitt could “out” her.

2/21/18 A BMW is purchased for more than $24,000 using GoFundMe campaign funds.

1/26/18 to 1/30/18 McClure and a relative go to Los Angeles, California to visit Disneyland and go to the Ellen Show.

12/29/17 to 1/08/18 Mark D’Amico and Kate McClure take a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. Photos are posted to social media.

12/27/17 $25,000 is deposited into Bobbitt’s bank account.

12/11/17 The “Paying it Forward” campaign comes down from GoFundMe’s website.

12/4/17 Bobbitt moves into an $18,000 RV parked at D’Amico & McClure’s home in Florence Twp., New Jersey.

11/27/17 to 12/12/17 Nearly $350,000 is paid out to Kate McClure’s bank account.

11/16/17 to 11/22/17 More than $19,500 in payouts are made to purchase pre-paid debit cards.

11/15/17 to 11/28/17 D’Amico, McClure and Bobbitt conduct interviews with TV networks, radio stations and newspapers.

11/15/17 D’Amico, McClure and Bobbitt appear in a YouTube video to promote the campaign.

11/13/17 Text messages between McClure and D’Amico saying gas story is a “little lie.”

11/10/17 McClure texts friend the story is “made up” and “I had to make something up to make people feel bad.”

11/10/17 “Paying it Forward” campaign is created on GoFundMe. It says the money will go to help Bobbitt.

OCT. 2017 Kate running out of gas on I-95 in Philly and getting assistance from Bobbitt purportedly transpired.

10/16/17 McClure & D’Amico text about a homeless man they see by Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia.

TIMELINE

Action News investigative reporter Chad Pradelli, producer Cheryl Mettendorf and photographer Bryan Michinok discuss the making of 'No Good Deed.'

Court Documents

Statement of Probable Cause

Premiering Dec. 21

Tim Tai/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP

David Swanson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP

Joe Lamberti/Camden Courier-Post via AP

The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP

Johnny Bobbitt, Mark D'Amico and Kate McClure pose for a photo at a Citgo gas station in Philadelphia on Nov. 17, 2017 (Elizabeth Robertson/Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP

Credits Executive Producers Cheryl Mettendorf Chad Pradelli Writers Chad Pradelli Cheryl Mettendorf Editors  Bryan Michinok Noelle Brennan Dave Edwards Photographers Bryan Michinok Dave Edwards Todd Haas Juan Carlos Guerrero Dave Corona WPVI-TV Executive Producer of Special Projects Rob Royal Senior Manager, Creative Design Hope McCorristin Graphics Maria Covell Lori Lightcap Kevin Kunzman Marketing Noelle Brennan Troy Bauer Justine Palis Digital Content Bruce Alderfer WPVI-TV President & GM Bernie Prazenica WPVI-TV VP of News Tom Davis   WPVI-TV VP of Marketing Mike Monsell WPVI-TV News Operations Manager Elizabeth Plyler Content Strategy & Development Luke Richards Content Operations Rachel Schwartz Manager, Content Engineering Justin Lauffer Legal Counsel  Theresa Karle VP, Content Partner Innovation Anna Robertson Casting Mike Lemon Casting Actors John Coviello Jackie Cremer Damien Colletti Kristen Beatty Special Thanks To: Philadelphia Inquirer Barbara Boyer Burlington Co. Prosecutors Office Florence Twp. Police GoFundMe

Audio: Kate McClure secretly recorded a conversation with Mark D'Amico on Sept. 2, 2018 as the GoFundMe scheme began to unravel.

Criminal Complaints

US v. Johnny Bobbitt

US v. Mark D'Amico

US v. Kate McClure

Bobbitt's Federal Plea

McClure's Federal Plea