this is "nightline." >> tonight the feel-good story gone viral. now a criminal investigation. >> i hate it came to this. >> the homeless who gave up his last 20 bucks -- >> i was driving down 95 -- and ran out of gas. >> asking what happened to much of his $400,000 windfall? now the couple who raised the money accused of living large defends themselves. plus baby backlash. men often have babies later in life, so why are older moms getting so much flack? model actress bridget nielsen, a mom again at 54, defending her choice. >> a lot of men are easily in their 50s, 60s, 70s, even 80s, and there's never a word, just

congratulations. >> is there a double standard when it comes to parenthood? flying solo. a student pilot attempting her first solo long-distance flight forced to make an emergency landing. >> we're going to get some people out to help you, okay? >> okay. >> how she kept her cool when things heated up in the air. but first the "nightline 5." >> yes? >> no. >> i'm not ready for this. ♪ >> this is -- >> stop, you got this. >> whew. [ wolf whistle ] >> oh, you're single too? >> number one in just 60 seconds.

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good evening. thanks for joining us. we begin with the cynical twist in a once feel-good story about the homeless vet who gave his last 20 bucks to help a stranger. his reward? a $400,000 gofundme effort. tonight, why he didn't get all the cash, and why the couple behind the campaign is now under investigati investigation. here's abc's linsey davis. >> hurricane florence getting stronger -- >> state of emergency already tonight -- >> reporter: as the east coast prepares for yet another potentially devastating hurricane, the aftermath will likely leave many across the nation looking for ways to lend a hand. after the catastrophic devastation left by hurricane harvey, more than $65 million raised on the crowd funding website gofundme to help people rebuild. >> thank you! >> thank you!

>> reporter: powered by kindness, online fund-raising campaigns can be life-changing. but with giving also comes the potential for taking. >> i hate that it came to this. >> reporter: johnny bobbitt jr. has a rags to riches and then back to rags story that's captured the nation. >> contributions now nearing $400,000. >> now the man claims the couple withheld much of that money and he says he's now back living on the street. >> reporter: it started last fall when the former marine was living on the streets near philadelphia and came to the rescue of the then 27-year-old kate mcclure, when her tank and wallet were both empty. >> driving down 95, and -- ran out of gas. so i pulled over on the side of the road. >> she needed the help, she took the help. i was glad to offer it, you know, help when somebody needed it. >> reporter: bobbitt gave her his last $20 for gas. moved by the homeless vet's generosity, mcclure and her boyfriend mark d'amico went back to visit bobbitt where he was

living under a bridge. >> when you got someone that's coming back to help you, it makes you feel good, yeah. that someone's actually showing interest in you. >> reporter: mcclure told abc news she and her boyfriend wanted to do more for bobbitt. >> we were thinking, what if we started a gofundme for this guy, just to get him, you know -- to get him off the streets, even for a weekend? >> reporter: with the title "paying it forward," the story of bobbitt's selflessness went viral. the couple's original goal of $10,000 ballooned to over $400,000. >> like winning the lottery. >> reporter: when the money started pouring in, mcclure and d'amico stipulated the funds would go to buy bobbitt a new home which johnny will own and the dream truck he's always wanted. the couple promised the money would be put into two trusts, one for living expenses, the other for his retirement. mcclure told abc news' adrienne bankert they were ensuring the

money would be handled responsibility. >> meetings are set up with us and a financial adviser and a lawyer obviously because it's gotten to this point. we're going to go off of them and what they say and take their guidance. >> reporter: but bobbitt says mcclure and d'amico ended up controlling the money. >> i have to ask them for everything. it was kind of -- in the beginning it was a joke. like they were like my parents. but the joke stops being funny after awhile. >> reporter: alleging they bought him a camper they parked on their property, and of the $400,000 plus? he says he only got $75,000. claiming the couple spent the rest on themselves. and that around that same time, they began flaunting a seemingly extravagant lifestyle on social media. going to vegas. visiting the grand canyon on a private helicopter tour. mcclure seen here with a louis vuitton bag gambling. >> we're here today asking the defendants where the money went. >> reporter: bobbitt has now filed a civil suit against mcclure and d'amico and a criminal investigation is under way. >> if they were literally stealing money from this pool of

dollars that was supposed to be going to him, then they could be charged with fraud or maybe even theft. >> reporter: last week, police executed a search warrant on the couple's home, towing away this bmw, and taking out bags of evidence as d'amico stood in his yard swinging a golf club. but the couple claims they spent their own money and denied mismanagement of the donations, saying they gave bobbitt $200,000 and were managing the rest because of his struggles with drugs. in august the couple addressed the controversy with nbc's megan kelyn. >> you didn't spiel comfortable giving the $400,000? >> yes, because we saw the pattern developing. >> that suggested what to you? >> that he was going to do something foolish and end up right back where he was. >> what specifically? >> the drug use. and every dollar he ever touched was used for drugs. >> reporter: bobbitt told abc's philadelphia station that he did spend some of the money on

drugs. but that 39-year-old d'amico has his demons too. >> he's a self-described gambling addict. i think it's pretty hypocritical for you to tell me i can't manage my money because i might spend it on drugs. >> reporter: according to our abc affiliate in philadelphia, mcclure makes $43,000 a year as secretary for department of transportation, d'amico works as a carpenter. in late august the couple's attorney said in court they promised to provide an accounting of the money. >> i would urge everybody to withhold judgment until that's been made public. >> reporter: when the judge ordered the couple to return any remaining money into escrow, their attorney said there was nothing left. according to court records, on august 27th, d'amico allegedly texted bobbitt saying in part, i say i get rid of my lawyers, you get rid of yours, kate and i will write you a check, seriously. the couple's attorney told abc news they have no comment. this is not the first time a crowd sourcing campaign has come

under scrutiny. earlier this week authorities announced an investigation into a southern california woman, ashley beamis, for allegedly making up a fake firefighter husband and scamming people into donating $11,000 worth of supplies and money. according to a search warrant, beamis posted in a local facebook group asking for donations for her husband, shane goodman, and his california fire department squad, saying they weren't getting the supplies they needed on the front lines of the fire. >> to have it all be fraudulent is just heartbreaking. >> reporter: authorities say shane goodman never existed. and that those donated items were resold online. abc news reached out for comment from beamis and has not heard back. >> we vet charities but we can't vet individuals so they can take advantage of people's generosity, particularly during times when emotions are running high. >> what i needed was money, what i received was love. >> thank you! >> thank you.

>> reporter: despite these stories of people allegedly scamming the system, crowd sourcing websites have raised billions of dollars for good. >> thank you! >> thank you! >> reporter: and there are steps you can take to make sure that your money is going to the right place. the better business bureau recommends that you learn all you can about the charity or individual. do a reverse image search on any photos used in the campaign. and caution that scammers often put up multiple campaigns across several platforms. >> the good news is, except for the fees that are paid to gofundme, there is effectively a warranty that says, you're donating for this cause, we're going to back it up. >> reporter: in a statement to abc news today, gofundme said they will continue to assist with the ongoing law enforcement investigation and will provide an update at the conclusion of the investigation and legal proceedings, and after the authorities have taken a detailed accounting. the company also stated, campaigns with misuse make up less than one-tenth of one

percent of all campaigns. bobbitt is reportedly now in rehab, and gofundme has agreed to reimburse any money misspent by the couple if proven true. for "nightline" i'm linsey davis in new york. up next, baby backlash. 55-year-old model, actress, bridget nielsen taking on the mommy shamers for the double standard against older moms. keep those shrimp comin'! endless shrimp is back at red lobster. with all the shrimp you want, any way you want them. try delicious creations like new crunchy fiesta shrimp tortilla chip crusted then topped with a creamy blend of three cheeses and finished with pico de gallo. and there's new sesame-ginger shrimp. grilled and drizzled with savory soy-ginger sauce and sprinkled with asian seasoning. and don't forget the favorites you love, like garlic shrimp scampi! but endless shrimp won't last endlessly, so hurry in. ito take care of anyct messy situations..

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after a decade of heartbreak and failed attempts, model/actress brigitte nielsen becoming a mom again at 54.

but her joyous birth met with criticism. why she says older dads are not held to the same standard. here's abc's kayna whitworth. >> the best part of being a mom at my age is being my age. >> reporter: actress and model brigitte nielsen made headlines around the world when she announced her pregnancy at age 54. >> being a mom, it's like a miracle has come true. >> reporter: in june she and her 39-year-old husband matthias desi welcomes daughter frida. >> he's younger than me. frida will have a gorgeous, wonderful, mature, mom and a fun, exciting, younger dad. >> reporter: the first photo showing nielsen pregnant went viral, sparking a conversation about women having children at an older age. >> it's my life, it's my personal decision. and it's good. if you're healthy and you're happy and you can give love, i

think it's perfectly fine. >> reporter: going public as an older mom can often come with scrutiny. >> i feel like there's a little bit of stigma around sometimes women that want to have a baby older, but that is not the case for men. >> i was really worried about what people say. how dare she? she's 54, what about the baby, what if she's going to die? people are really -- they can get really mean. >> reporter: nielsen, the latest hollywood mom to open up about the challenges and rewards of having a baby later in life. >> my husband and i are planning our family. >> reporter: from janet jackson having her first child at the age of 50, to halle berry showing off her baby bump at 46, even mariah carey sharing her struggles with fertility with abc's barbara walters. >> did you have fertility treatments to try to get pregnant? >> the main thing i did that was tough was to go on progesterone like every month -- >> reporter: she would go on to

give birth to healthy twin age 42. >> age is a number and there are women in their 40s and 50s no are healthier and have fewer medical issues than women 10, 20 or more years younger. >> reporter: studies show a trend. women are having children later in life. recent numbers showing that the average age of first-time mothers is 26 years old. up from 21 in 1972 already. >> a lot of men are easily in their 50s, 60s, 70s, even 80s, and there's never a word, just congratulations. it's not fair. >> reporter: from robert de niro at 68, to clint eastwood at 66, even president donald trump had his fifth child at 62. >> the fact of the matter is, no one talks about this for men. so there is a huge double standard when it comes to women's health and medicine. and i think time's up for that.

>> reporter: for years nielsen has been no stranger to headlines. she found success in modeling, including posing for "playboy." >> do exactly as i say -- >> reporter: she landed roles in films like "beverly hills cop 2." >> all of you eat the floor, now! >> reporter: and the classic "rocky iv." where she starred next to her second husband, sylvester stallone. after decades of other rocky relationships she would go on to fall in love with an old flame, matthias decemberi. it wasn't long after she made the decision to become a mother again, freezing her eggs at 40 years old. >> it's like, time is up, you know. you've got to preserve, get the eggs, make embryos, and go for it. >> reporter: the odds were immediately against them. >> there are generally higher rates of chromosomal problems in the fetus. and there is a slightly higher rate or risk of stillbirth in these advanced maternal age pregnancies.

again, that doesn't mean that they can't be achieved. but that means our radar is up. >> reporter: doctors only giving her a 2% chance of getting pregnant using ivf treatments. >> i think the most difficult thing first time was, you think you're going to be pregnant because everything is so -- technology, it sounds perfect. you don't realize yet how difficult it is, the whole journey. i broke down. i was devastated. >> reporter: but then a positive result. still, her high-risk pregnancy had doctors urging her not to share the happy news even with family. >> at my age, at 3 months you're not safe, at 4 months you're not safe, at 5 months you're not safe. my doctor saying, if i were you i'd wait until you're 27 weeks. at 27 weeks, no matter what happens, you're going to be okay. i went to 37 weeks. >> no, really? >> 37 weeks, yes. >> all the way to 37 weeks. >> they fall it full term. so it was incredible. >> reporter: little frida born via c-section. >> when you have a high-risk

pregnancy, of course it's always in the back of your head, is today going to be okay? >> what do you want to say to maybe some women who ar little bit older in age that are considering ivf? >> you have to look into your soul. you have to read a lot. and ask yourself first if you think, can you do that? then i hate to bring it up but you also have to think economically and how much you want it and can you handle it? can your body handle it? can you psychologically deal with it? >> reporter: baby frida is the first girl for nielsen, who already has four boys already most of them in their 20s and 30s. >> here she is, my princess is here, oh my god, i can cry, only 2 1/2 months, i think the pregnancy hormone is still in me. >> reporter: nielsen says with age comes wisdom. >> i made so many mistakes. when i look back at all my four boys, i think there are things i could have done a lot better. i want to be so much more present than i probably was with my sons, even though we are incredibly close today and i'm

grateful for that. i definitely could have been more present and been wiser. >> reporter: now 55, nielsen rewriting the rule book on mother book and proving a traditional family can look a little different these days. >> yes, i have to be realistic. that in 15 years she'll be 15 years old, i will be 70. i will look 50, honey, i better. up next, flying solo. moments after takeoff, a student pilot forced to make a quick decision during her first solo long-distance trip. ♪ take us downtown, waze. waze integration- seamlessly connecting the world inside... with the world outside...

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finally tonight, there was no fear in flying for this student pie loot. forced to make an emergency landing after her piper pa-28 lost a crucial piece of equipment shortly after takeoff. once again here's abc's kayna whitworth. >> for a few seconds i was pretty sure that i was just going to die. >> reporter: a terrifying ordeal in the sky. this plane losing a wheel just after takeoff, forcing an

emergency landing. behind the controls, 17-year-old maggie terasca. >> can i circle back to land? >> affirmative. are you a solo, man? >> i'm a student pilot solo, yeah. >> we're going to get some people out to help you, okay? >> okay. >> reporter: fear in her voice early sunday morning, embarking on her first solo long-distance flight from massachusetts to maine, when air traffic control alerted her of the problem. >> my heart just sunk. i didn't know if i'd be able to do it. i didn't know if i'd be making it down safely. >> reporter: she says she was relying on her training and her instructor on the ground to land safely. >> maggie, this is john, how are you doing? >> i'm okay. >> you're doing a great job flying the airplane. keep doing what you're doing. just try to relax and you always heard me say, go back to basics. we're going to work the basics here as much as possible, okay? >> all right. >> he's talked me through countless landings. he's the only person that could

have talked me down, i think. ultimately i was the one that had to put the plane down. >> reporter: her parents and emergency responders standing by as she lands on the runway before skidding onto the grass. >> beautiful job, maggie. you've got a whole bunch of people clapping for you up here. >> cool under pressure. thanks for watching "nightline." as always, we're online at our "nightline" facebook page. good night, america. today, life-changing technology from abbott is helping hunt them down at their source. because the faster we can identify new viruses, the faster we can get to stopping them. the most personal technology, is technology with the power to change your life.

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