Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Two Women Accused of Shocking Crime in Ashtabula, Ohio
In a bizarre and disturbing turn of events, two women in Ashtabula, Ohio, have been accused of driving the body of a deceased 80-year-old man to a bank to withdraw money from his account before dropping his body off at a hospital. The incident has shocked the local community and left many questioning the motives behind such a heinous act.
Details of the Incident
The accused, Karen Casbohm, 63, and Loreen Bea Feralo, 55, were charged with gross abuse of a corpse and theft from a person in a protected class. The Ashtabula Municipal Court records show that the women allegedly dropped off the body of 80-year-old Douglas Layman at the Ashtabula County Medical Center emergency room without identifying themselves or the deceased.
According to police reports, Casbohm and Feralo claimed they found Layman deceased at the home where all three resided. They, along with a third unnamed person, then placed Layman’s body in the front seat of his car and drove to a bank to withdraw money from his account. The body was positioned in a way that it would be visible to bank staff to facilitate the withdrawal.
Community Shock and Investigation
Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell described the incident as highly unusual and concerning. He mentioned that the bank had allowed similar withdrawals in the past, as long as the individual was accompanied by the account holder. Lt. Mike Palinkas revealed that one of the women had been in a live-in relationship with Layman for several years, while the other had been staying at the residence for a few months.
The motive behind the women’s actions remains unclear, with Palinkas stating that they claimed to need the money to pay bills. However, he noted that they did not provide a detailed explanation for their actions on the day of the incident. Both women are facing charges, with Casbohm already arraigned and held on a $5,000 bond, while Feralo is set for arraignment next week.
Continuing Investigation and Autopsy
The police have stated that the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be brought against the accused. The coroner’s office is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of Layman’s death, a process that could take up to eight months. The local community is reeling from the shocking turn of events and is eager for answers in this troubling case.
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