Two roommates of a recently deceased man have been charged with abusing a corpse after allegedly propping up his body to withdraw money from his bank account, according to police reports.
Loreen B. Feralo, 55, and Karen Kasbohm, 63, discovered the man’s lifeless body on Monday and decided to take advantage of the situation, Ashtabula Police Chief Robert B. Stell revealed in a statement.
Chief Stell explained that the pair, along with an unnamed accomplice, moved the deceased man’s body to the front seat of his car. Their intention was to present him to bank staff so they could withdraw money from his account, a routine they had previously carried out with the man’s approval.
The trio drove to the familiar bank branch, utilizing the drive-thru teller window to carry out their scheme and withdraw an undisclosed sum, Chief Stell reported.
Roommates of Deceased Ohio Man Allegedly Drove His Body to Withdraw Money from Bank Account, Police Report (Credits: NBC News)
However, their plan started to unravel when they hastily dropped the body off at Ashtabula County Medical Center after completing the withdrawal. They neglected to provide any information about the deceased man to the hospital staff.
Chief Stell mentioned that one of the roommates eventually contacted the medical facility with partial details about the deceased individual, leading to the identification of the body as that of Douglas Layman, 80.
Upon investigation, officers visited Layman’s residence in Ashtabula, where the roommates admitted to their actions regarding the bank visit, Chief Stell stated.
Both suspects have since appeared in court, although it remains unclear whether they entered pleas or have legal representation. Requests for comment from the county public defender’s office were unanswered.
Kasbohm’s bond was reportedly set at $5,000, as per NBC affiliate WKYC of Cleveland, situated about 60 miles southwest of Ashtabula. Meanwhile, Feralo is scheduled for arraignment next week.
Chief Stell hinted at the possibility of additional charges, although the county prosecutor’s office did not provide any immediate response to inquiries.
