I'm guessing she's left it so long now she has no interest in ever finishing it, yet she does not have the money to pay him back. That in itself could be worked around - she could set aside a small amount of money a day to give back. Hell, even $5 a day would get it paid off in around 6 months if my maths is right.

She's a good artist and I was going to commission her myself, but shes lost my business now. Even if she DOES finish her backlog, I wouldn't given her money. As I think Utunu said in an earlier comment, anything I'd get from her would feel tainted just knowing this info.