Two Ohio Women Accused of Propping up Dead Roommate in Car to Make Bank Withdrawal
In a bizarre and disturbing incident, two women from Ohio are facing charges for allegedly driving their deceased male roommate to the bank, propping him up in the car, and withdrawing money from his account. Loreen B. Feralo, 55, and Karen Casbohm, 66, both residents of Ashtabula, Ohio, were charged with theft and gross abuse of a corpse.
The shocking crime took place on March 4th when Feralo and Casbohm discovered their roommate, Douglas Layman, 80, dead in their shared home. Instead of reporting his death to the authorities, the women came up with a macabre plan to make a bank withdrawal using Layman’s account.
With the help of a third person, Feralo and Casbohm placed Layman’s body in his car and drove to the bank. They allegedly positioned him in the passenger seat in such a way that he would be visible to the bank staff. This was reportedly not the first time they had done this, as the bank had allowed them to make withdrawals in the past as long as Layman accompanied them.
According to Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell, the women successfully withdrew an undisclosed amount of money from Layman’s account. However, their audacious plan did not end there. After leaving the bank, they drove to the Ashtabula County Medical Center emergency room and dropped off Layman’s body without identifying themselves or the deceased.
It was only a few hours later when one of the women contacted the medical center and provided some information about Layman. The police were then notified and went to Layman’s residence to interview Feralo and Casbohm. The women admitted that Layman had died in their home but did not explain their motive for using his body to make a bank withdrawal.
Both women were subsequently arrested and charged with theft and gross abuse of a corpse. Feralo is also facing additional drug charges, according to Ashtabula Municipal Court records.
The shocking nature of this crime has left the community in disbelief. Ashtabula Police Chief Stell expressed his shock and stated, “I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
The preliminary hearings for Feralo and Casbohm are scheduled for Tuesday, March 12th. As the investigation continues, the motive behind their actions remains unknown.
This disturbing incident serves as a reminder of the depths some individuals are willing to go for personal gain. It also raises questions about the bank’s procedures and the need for stricter regulations to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
As the community grapples with the shocking details of this case, it serves as a sobering reminder to cherish life and treat the deceased with respect and dignity. The outcome of this trial will undoubtedly have long-lasting effects on the lives of those involved and will be closely watched by many.
