A woman from Pennsylvania is facing legal trouble after allegedly filing a fake insurance claim related to a barn she sold for a TV show. Tracey Jeffreys, 63, lives in the Milton area and had a deal with the Discovery Channel for the show "Barnwood Builders." The plan was to take apart her barn and rebuild it on the show.
In 2022, a representative from the show found that some of the wood was damaged by powder post beetles. Because of this, the show decided to use only parts of the barn. Jeffreys received $20,000 for the lumber she sold to the show.
Shortly after, she filed a claim with Donegal Mutual Insurance for $100,000, claiming that wind had knocked down part of the barn. However, when an adjuster looked into it, they couldn’t find any evidence to support her claim. Reports indicated that the winds on the day she claimed damage were only around 7 mph, which is quite low.
Investigators also spoke to neighbors who saw the barn being taken down and learned about the show’s dismantling process. In a twist, Jeffreys later tried to withdraw her claim. She explained to authorities that she had forgotten to tell the demolition crew not to take the part of the barn that she claimed was damaged by wind.
As a result of the investigation, the state Attorney General’s office charged Jeffreys with insurance fraud. She has since been released on bail. This case highlights the serious consequences of filing false insurance claims and serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty in such matters.