Open Door Sanctuary Church donates money and cooks for woman accused of fake abuse fraud

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Members of a northeast Houston church say they fell victim to the same woman Eyewitness News profiled Wednesday night.

For the last two years, police say Joanna Knight has been soliciting money from people under the guise of needing a place to stay after fleeing an abusive husband.

Court records show she was already out on bond for a theft charge on Sept. 6 when Jonathan Russell said Knight approached him and his wife in Truffly Park.

“You know, you want to try and make sure that you help a person as much as you can,” said Russell, a former pastor at Open Door Sanctuary Church in the Fifth Ward.

Russell said he not only gave Knight money but also recruited church members to donate.

“We gave her $180. I think altogether from the donors it was about $300 and maybe $50,” he said.

The generosity didn’t end there. Russell said he and his wife went grocery shopping for Knight and her four children, invited them back to the church, and prepared a meal for them.

As ABC13 reported Wednesday, CPS says two of the “children” are actually adults.

“It look like they was embarrassed at all. I think at one point you can kind of tell that she was a little nervous about what she was doing,” said Russell.

After seeing Wednesday’s story, the Russells say they recognized Knight. Houston police confirm they filed a report Thursday.

“I would love to get my money back because, you know, because that money could have been used for somebody else that really needed it,” said Trina Russell.

Knight remains in jail on a $200,000 bond after her arrest last week for jumping bail following a July arrest.

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