Michelle Haney, 48, from Florida, has been charged with abuse of a corpse for allegedly stuffing the body of her dead neighbor, Jon Leonard, into a trash can
A Florida woman has been accused of stuffing the body of her housemate into a trash can after he died to keep collecting his Social Security benefits for six months.
Michelle Haney, 48, was arrested on Wednesday by Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies and is now facing a charge of abuse of a corpse.
Investigators said Haney told them Jon Christopher Leonard, 40, died in July of what appeared to be natural causes.
Haney and Leonard had been living together at the time in the 5000 block of Windmill Manor Lane in the Windmill Mobile Home Park near Bradenton. Instead of calling authorities, investigators said Haney stored Leonard’s body in a closet, before sealing it in a trash can three weeks later, reported WFLA.
In September, Haney hauled the 55-gallon garbage receptacle to her next-door neighbor’s house and asked him to keep it for her, saying she would be back for it later.
Investigators said the neighbor was apparently unaware of what was inside when he agreed to store the bin in his carport.
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Leonard's decomposed body was discovered on Tuesday inside a trash can that Haney's neighbor had been keeping for her for two months
Officials say Leonard, 40, died from what appeared to be natural causes inside the home he and Haney had shared near Bradenton, Florida
He called authorities on Tuesday after he smelled a foul odor and opened the container, discovering Leonard's wrapped up decomposed body.
Haney reportedly admitted to investigators that she had kept Leonard's death a secret and concealed his body so she could continue receiving his $1,200 monthly Social Security benefits, reported Tampa Bay Times.
'She treated him like a piece of garbage,' Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said during a press conference on Wednesday announcing Haney's arrest. 'This is a despicable. crime. Mr. Leonard has a family. Even though he was homeless at times, he has a caring, loving family.'
Haney allegedly admitted to concealing Leonard's death so that she could receive his $1,200 monthly Social Security benefits.
An autopsy will be performed to determine Leonard's cause and manner of death.
A man who identified himself as Leonard's cousin posted a tribute to him on Facebook, writing: 'Remembering my cousin Jon Leonard with the dignity and respect he deserved.'
Haney remained jailed on $7,500 bail on Thursday. She could face additional charges in this case.
