Three family members were taken into custody after it was revealed that they were living with the dead body of Vietnam War veteran, Robert Harris, in order to steal his social security checks. Tuscarawas County, Ohio police obtained a search warrant for Harris’ house after they learned that 49-year-old Brian Sorohan, 45-year-old Stacy Sorohan and their 18-year-old daughter Brianna Sorohan were reportedly collecting his social security benefits, despite friends and neighbors claiming they hadn’t seen Harris in years.
The body was allegedly left out in the open to decompose, just feet from where the family slept at night.
“The home was deplorable,” said Lt. Jeff Moore. “This was not a normal home. Most people would not be able to understand or even comprehend the conditions of this home.”
The Social Security Administration revealed that the benefits were still being paid to Harris. Security footage from a local ATM showed the family withdrawing money from the deceased veteran’s account. Police entered the home to search for documents related to the social security fraud and were shocked to not only find the documents, but also the skeleton remains of the departed veteran.
Investigators believe Harris has been dead for several months. Neighbors believe he may have died years ago. Neighbor Barb Polen claims she didn’t see Harris once during the three years she lived there.
“My husband is a veteran and that part is very upsetting, that he was a veteran. I was just glad that somebody noticed that he was living there and they actually did a check on him,” Polen told ABC15.
Harris’ body has been taken to the Stark County Coroner’s Office for autopsy. Brian and Stacy are being charged with gross abuse of a corpse, theft and failure to report a death. They are currently being held in the Tuscarawas County Jail on $20,000 bonds. Brianna Sorohan is charged with gross abuse of a corpse and theft. She was released on her own recognizance.
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