PRESCOTT, AZ. (THECOUNT) — Prescott, Arizona woman, Sandra Aven hadn’t been seen in years and officers who performed a welfare check on the 77-year-old Tuesday were told by a family member that she had “gone out of town” and was “unavailable.”
Police say they received a report Tuesday morning by a concerned party who stated that the senior citizen had been away for an extended period of time.
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Police paid a visit to the home of Sandra’s daughter and granddaughter, 46-yr-old Tara Aven and 24-year-old Briar Aven, who incidentally live next store.
Briar, who was home at the time, informed police that her grandmother was away and could not be reached.
Investigators then interviewed Tara who provided inconsistent information, contradicting her daughter. Police became suspicious and entered Sandra’s home to check on her.
Once inside the dwelling they found grandma’s decaying body which police estimate had been there for at least two years since 2017.
Officials learned the woman had continued to cash Sandra’s social security checks.
JUST IN: These are the booking photos of 24-yr-old Briar Aven & her mom 46-yr-old Tara Aven. The two were arrested for murdering Tara’s 77-yr-old mom in 2017…her deceased body just found by officers this morning. The 2 admitted to cashing checks belonging to the woman #azfamily pic.twitter.com/dLEmaHygTd
— Briana Whitney (@BrianaWhitney) April 10, 2019
Police said the mother and daughter continued to cash “numerous monthly payment checks” written for Sandra, reports q13Fox.
Both Briar and Tara Aven were arrested and taken to the Yavapai County Jail, though specific charges were not immediately provided.
A cause of death for Sandra is yet to be determined.
Geo quick facts: Prescott is a city in central Arizona. Downtown, historic Whiskey Row is known for its bars and live music venues. The Sharlot Hall Museum documents the region’s pioneer-era history. The Smoki Museum exhibits artifacts from indigenous peoples of the Southwest. To the northeast, Watson Lake is home to hundreds of bird species, and a circuit of trails runs among the granite boulders dotting its shore – wikipedia.