NEW YORK — The ex-husband of one of America’s most wanted fugitives has come forward with new details about a mysterious phone call he received years after she vanished abroad.

Vanessa O’Rourke, 37, who is accused of faking brain cancer to con family and friends out of more than $100,000 before going on the run, contacted her former husband Michael Gulinello around 2020 while believed to be hiding in Australia.

“As far as I know she’s never come back to the US,” Gulinello told reporters.

O’Rourke, who was recently added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list, allegedly used donations intended for her fabricated cancer treatment to fund lavish vacations and a glamorous lifestyle. After disappearing, she made the surprise call to Gulinello — her ex-husband since their 2010 divorce — asking for proof of their separation because her mother could not provide it.

“She somehow got a hold of me. She called and asked me if I could send her proof we got divorced,” Gulinello revealed. He said he refused the request, noting that she was already wanted by authorities at the time.

The call came despite Gulinello having changed his phone number years earlier, highlighting how determined O’Rourke was to reach him from overseas.

O’Rourke is accused of duping loved ones into believing she was battling terminal brain cancer. Instead of seeking treatment, authorities say she spent the money on personal luxuries while evading justice. She remains at large, with the FBI actively seeking information on her whereabouts.

The case has drawn widespread attention due to O’Rourke’s striking appearance and the audacity of the alleged scam. Photos circulating in media reports show her smiling confidently in multiple images, including one featured prominently in coverage by the New York Post.

This latest revelation adds another layer to the ongoing international manhunt for the fugitive, who continues to elude capture thousands of miles from the United States. Authorities urge anyone with information on O’Rourke’s location to contact the FBI.