she was pleased to see a close family friend, ashley cushman, set up a memorial fund in honor of west. >> all funds will be sent for the 7-year-old daughter. that's breanna west. >> reporter: reports indicated donations would be sent to a pay pal account or to a wells fargo account. the family says in the weeks after the accident, they were told at least $26,000 was raised for breanna. then, weeks after the accident -- >> ashley was nowhere to be found. >> how many times did you try to reach ashley? >> i would say ten times, emails, texts, phone calls. >> reporter: she said she is being told the funds are kept for breanna until she turns 18. >> did you believe her? >> i believed her, but i wanted proof of that and did not get it. >> reporter: in 2015, an attorney sent this letter to cushman, seeking to confirm if a constructed trust for the donated funds was created and if breanna was made the sole beneficiary. >> when she did not respond, it was over for me. >> reporter: breanna turned 18 this past may and recently got accepted to washington state, hoping she could use the money to h