Two Ohio women are facing charges for reportedly bringing their male roommate’s body to the bank, propping him up, and withdrawing money from his account on Monday.
Loreen B. Feralo, 55, and Karen Casbohm, 66, of Ashtabula, Ohio, near Cleveland, were charged with theft and gross mistreatment of a corpse last week in the city’s municipal court.
The two ladies allegedly discovered the deceased, Douglas Layman, 80, of Ashtabula, dead in his home, where they were also staying, on March 4, according to Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell in a Facebook posting.
Women propped dead man up at bank to get cash then dropped body off at ER: Police
The women allegedly put Layman in his car and went to the bank, where they withdrew an undisclosed sum of money from his account, according to Stell. “It is further alleged that Mr. Layman was placed in the vehicle in such a manner that he would be visible to bank staff in order to make the withdrawal,” he went on to say.
The victim was “propped up in the passenger seat so that the teller could see him,” Stell told the Star Beacon, an Ashtabula newspaper. As long as he was with them, the bank had previously allowed this.
Police say the women left the bank, dropped off the corpse at the Ashtabula County Medical Center emergency department, and then left without identifying Layman or themselves. A few hours later, one of the ladies contacted the medical center and provided them with information about Layman, according to the authorities.
Women charged, preliminary hearing is Tuesday
When officers arrived at Layman’s home and interviewed the women, they revealed that Layman had died there in Ashtabula, according to the Star Beacon.
Both were apprehended and charged.
According to records from Ashtabula Municipal Court, Feralo is also facing further narcotics charges.
Both have preliminary hearings set for Tuesday, March 12.
