Two Ohio Women Allegedly Prop Up Dead Man to Withdraw Money from His Account

On Monday, 63-year-old Karen Casbohm and 55-year-old Loreen Bea Feralo, both from Ohio, allegedly took the body of 80-year-old Douglas Layman to a bank in their car to withdraw hundreds of dollars from his account. They then proceeded to drop him off at the Ashtabula County Medical Center emergency room, according to Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell and Ashtabula Prosecuting Attorney Cecilia Cooper.

Charges and Arrest

Following the incident, Casbohm and Feralo now face felony charges, including gross abuse of a corpse and theft. Law enforcement officers arrested the two women on Wednesday. Subsequently, they were charged with gross abuse of a corpse and theft, as disclosed by Stell and Cooper to Fox 8.

Identification of the Deceased

Upon arriving at the hospital, medical personnel were initially unaware of the man's identity. Subsequently, one of the women contacted the hospital to provide some personal information about the deceased, enabling the authorities to identify him. Officers then went to Layman's home to speak with the women.

Unusual Circumstances

Casbohm and Feralo, who were not related to Layman but lived at his residence, reportedly discovered the man's body at his home on Monday. Instead of contacting emergency services, they opted to attempt to withdraw money from his bank account.

Actions at the Bank

Allegedly, the women, with the help of an unidentified third individual, took Layman's body out of the home and propped him up in the passenger seat of their car. They proceeded to drive to a bank drive-thru to withdraw around $900. It is stated that previously the bank had allowed them to withdraw money from Layman's account under the condition that he was present in the vehicle.

Legal Proceedings and Potential Sentencing

At present, the cause of Layman’s death remains unknown, and the case is under investigation. Casbohm appeared in court this week for her arraignment, where her bond was set at $5,000. Feralo is set to appear for her arraignment on Thursday. If found guilty, they could face up to a year in prison on each charge.

Previous Criminal Histories

Both women have previous criminal records, with Casbohm having been convicted of theft, soliciting, criminal trespass, receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia, and attempted drug abuse. On the other hand, Feralo has been convicted of reckless assault, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal trespass, driving under the influence, theft, and attempted possession of drugs.