A Rochester woman hid her dead boyfriend’s body in the basement of the home they shared so that she could continue to receive his Social Security benefits.
That’s according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Rochester which charged Wendy Stone with theft of government funds, aggravated identity theft, and making a false statement to obtain social security benefits.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Stone’s boyfriend, Kenneth Crisman, died on December 28, 2022. Stone lived with Crisman, who received Social Security benefits prior to his death. However, Stone failed to notify anyone of Crisman’s death, instead, moving his body to the basement of their residence and continuing to collect his benefits. Stone wrapped Crisman’s body, and placed it into a plastic recycling bin, periodically pouring bleach on his body to prevent foul odor.
Prior to his death, Crisman requested a replacement debit card for his benefits. On January 6, 2023, the card was successfully activated with a new PIN number. The next day, the first debits to Crisman’s new card began. The card was depleted by January 15, 2023, with charges at The Peppermill Restaurant, Walmart, BJs Wholesalers, The Home Depot, Staples, as well as ATM withdrawals. The card was also used to open a Rent-A-Center account on March 7, 2023, for a $1,815.05 purchase. Between January and September 2023, $7,902.00 of benefits intended for Crisman were deposited into his account and depleted by Stone. On January 3, 2024, the Social Security Administration conducted a redetermination for continuing eligibility for Stone’s benefits, who falsely reported that since December 2021, no one has moved into or out of her residence, including births or deaths, and that nobody helped pay her bills or rent since December 2021. The use of Crisman’s benefits rendered Stone ineligible for her own benefits from December 28, 2022, through September 2023.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Bradley Parker and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith.
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