Woman Is Investigated in 9/11 Attack-Related Claim

NEW YORK —  A woman who reported her brother missing in the World Trade Center attack last year and collected survivor benefits is under investigation after authorities found that the man does not exist, the FBI said Tuesday.

The name Jeffrey Montgomery was removed from the still-fluid list of victims last week, along with two others who were erroneously reported missing. Authorities said Friday that they had contacted all three, but they now say there is no Jeffrey Montgomery.

“At this time, we don’t believe that Jeffrey Montgomery exists,” FBI Special Agent Jeff Lanza told Associated Press.

“The FBI is investigating the possibility that his existence was made up in order to collect survivor benefits.”

Cassaundrea Montgomery of St. Joseph, Mo., allegedly received several thousand dollars from the Red Cross, which has raised about $1 billion to help victims’ relatives after the terrorist attacks.

Her attorney, Bert Godding, declined to comment Tuesday. She has not been charged with a crime related to the missing-person report.

Lanza said that Montgomery was being held by local authorities in Buchanan County, Missouri, for violation of probation related to check fraud charges.