Florida woman stored dead man's body in trash can to collect Social Security: sheriff
Michelle Haney, 49, of Bradenton, never reported the death: deputies
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Florida woman has been charged with storing a dead man’s body in a trash can in order to collect his Social Security benefits.
Michelle Haney, 49, of Bradenton, was arrested and charged Wednesday with abuse of a dead body in connection with the death of 40-year-old Jon Christopher Leonard.
"It's a sad day when you treat someone like a piece of trash when he deserved a proper burial and deserved to have his family with him to mourn," Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said, Fox 13 Tampa reported.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mugshot for Michelle Haney, 49, of Bradenton, Florida. (Manatee County Sheriff's Office )
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Haney said she found Leonard dead in her home in July, apparently of natural causes, but deputies say she never contacted authorities, the station reported.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An arrest affidavit says that weeks after the death, Haney retrieved the body from a closet and stuffed it into a trash can, which she then dropped off at a neighbor's when she moved out.
The neighbor called deputies Monday when he began emptying the trash can and found Leonard’s body, the affidavit says.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}It says Haney admitted cashing Leonard’s $1,200 in monthly Social Security benefits since his death.
A judge ordered Haney held on $50,000 bond during a court appearance Thursday.