Freshman Rep. Andy Ogles once raised $23,000 to create a burial garden for stillborn babies with a 'life-size statue of Jesus.' It was never built.

• Andy Ogles once raised more than $23,000 to create a burial garden for stillborn babies.
• The Republican lawmaker says he didn't raise enough to build the garden, so he donated it to families in need, but didn't offer proof.

Eight years ago, Andy Ogles raised more than $23,000 on GoFundMe to create a burial garden for stillborn babies, complete with a Jesus statue to watch over them.

But, the garden was never built and Ogles — now a freshman GOP congressman — hasn't offered proof of where the money went, according to multiple reports.

Ogles set up the fundraiser in February 2014 after his son was stillborn.

The campaign's description urged, "Help us help other families. No family should have to bury their child; no child should be alone."

The fundraiser said the burial garden would feature benches, flowers, and a "life-size statue of Jesus watching over the children."

In a statement obtained by the Tennessee Star on Wednesday, Ogles claims that the nearly $25,000 his campaign raked in "wasn't enough for our original goal of a more significant memorial," so he says that instead, "the purpose evolved from a memorial to direct financial support for families covering the cost of funeral expenses and other needs for their children."

But Ogles, who Insider previously reported has a history of embellishing his resume, didn't offer proof or examples of where the money went in his statement to the Star.

Ogles' office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The manager of the cemetery where Ogles' son was buried told NewsChannel 5 that he met with Ogles several times and offered to let him create a smaller memorial than originally planned, with the option to expand it later.

But Ogles never followed up, the manager told NewsChannel 5.