NY woman, Tina Cummings, was arrested Tuesday and accused of collecting the Social Security benefits of her dead father while his body was decomposing for months.
Cummings, 55, was charged with two counts of third-degree grand larceny after collecting nearly $20,000 in benefits meant for her dead father, Ralph Tefft, the New York State Police said.
|
Advertisement |
Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said Cummings collected the Social Security benefits of her 91-year-old Tefft. Wylie said Cummings kept her father’s benefits for three months before telling authorities about his passing. Officials said Tefft’s body was left decomposing inside a home in Morrisonville. source
His body was found in May after an anonymous tip was made to adult protective services.
The coroner said Tefft died from natural causes.
Investigators said Cummings received $4,647 in Social Security benefits and $15,065 in veteran’s benefits after her father died.
Cummings was arraigned in the Town of Plattsburgh court and ordered held in the Clinton County Jail on $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond.