UPDATED : 2-7-25

Below is an email statement we received at the Outlook –

The statement, written below can be attributed to Tracey L Harkins of Prusak & Harkins, LLC, Counsel for Katherine Jackson, and Aaron Rapier of Rapier Law Firm, Counsel for Katherine Jackson.

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“The baseless attacks on my client, Katherine Jackson, are part of a much larger and more complex situation that has been spearheaded by the Indiana Department of Child Services. Up until late 2024, DCS claimed that Katherine’s daughter’s rare genetic disorder, Pilarowski Bjornsson Syndrome, did not exist, despite having proven lab results indicating otherwise. This is only one of many critical factual and provable details that have been tragically absent from public reporting, seeking to paint a false narrative of Katie.

Ms. Jackson did not lie about the disease to receive any support from the MakeAWish Foundation and is extremely grateful for their contributions – so much so that all the funds in the GoFundMe account, which was set up by a friend, were donated by Ms. Jackson back to the MakeAWish Foundation – all of which can be confirmed with documentation. 

At no point in time did Ms. Jackson lie, exploit, or exaggerate the truth of her daughter’s illness. The claim that Ms. Jackson was not providing her children with the proper medication after days of being in the ER is not only absurd, given that said care was now the responsibility of medical staff, but also false. Since the biased and egregious attacks on my client by the Indiana DCS, Ms. Jackson has been forced to live without her daughters, who mean the absolute world to her. Her devotion to her children is what motivates her to keep fighting nonstop through illegal medical document deletions, diagnosis denials, and outright fabrications. She will continue to take every legal step necessary to get her children back, and we look forward to watching the truth prevail in court.”

Attributed to:

-Tracey L Harkins of Prusak & Harkins, LLC, Counsel for Katherine Jackson, and Aaron Rapier of Rapier Law Firm, Counsel for Katherine Jackson

(2-5-25) Today in the Allen County (Indiana) Superior Court a new case was filed against Katherine Jackson (41) of Decatur who is accused of lying about her child’s medical condition and not refilling medications that had been prescribed for her daughter.

In 2022…Jackson took her child to a hospital and during the visit the medical staff raised concerns over possible medical child abuse due to the child’s ongoing seizures and an irregular heart rate.

After two hospital visits the child and her sister, who were 6 and 5 years old at the time, started living with a foster parent.

Jackson faces one count of fraud, a Level 6 felony, two counts of neglect of a dependent. One of the neglect counts is a Level 5 felony and the other count is a Level 6 felony.

No future court dates have been scheduled for Jackson

Orlando nonprofit creates memories for families whose children are battling illnesses

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In July of 2021, a GoFundMe account attempted to raise money for Jackson’s daughter, who suffers from a disease called Pilarowski-Bjornsson Syndrome (PBS). According to the GoFundMe, the child suffered “80-90 seizures per day” due to another disease called Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS).

A doctor who specializes in genetics did confirm that the child was diagnosed with PBS and that it has no cure…he said that PBS is a chronic illness and is not terminal as Jackson had claimed.

Diseases from above—

Pilarowski-Bjornsson Syndrome 

Pilarowski-Bjornsson syndrome (PILBOS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a combination of features, including: 

Clinical Features: 

  • Intellectual disability
  • Speech apraxia (difficulty planning and coordinating movements for speech)
  • Autism-like behaviors
  • Seizures
  • Dysmorphic features, such as a small head, prominent forehead, and wide eyes
  • Motor delays and hypotonia (low muscle tone) 

Prognosis: 

The prognosis for PILBOS varies depending on the severity of the individual’s symptoms. Some individuals may have mild intellectual disability and live relatively independent lives, while others may require significant support and care throughout their lives

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome 

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a rare and severe form of epilepsy that typically begins in early childhood. It is characterized by multiple types of seizures that are often difficult to control with medication. 

Symptoms: 

  • Multiple seizure types, including:
    • Tonic seizures (stiffening of the body)
    • Atonic seizures (sudden loss of muscle tone)
    • Myoclonic seizures (sudden muscle jerks)
    • Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal seizures)
  • Developmental delays
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Behavioral problems

Prognosis: 

LGS is a lifelong condition. The prognosis varies depending on the severity of seizures and the response to treatment. Many people with LGS have ongoing seizures and cognitive difficulties. However, with appropriate treatment and support, some individuals may live fulfilling lives.