A 63-year-old woman from New York has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for hiding the body of her dead boyfriend in a recycling bin in their basement and continuing to steal his Social Security benefits for months after his death.
Wendy Stone pleaded guilty to unlawfully converting government funds and agreed to a deal with prosecutors, leading to her 12-month sentence.
The Discovery of the Crime
Wendy Stone’s crime began after her boyfriend, Kenneth Crisman, died at their Rochester home on December 28, 2022. Authorities say Stone, instead of reporting his death, hid his body in the basement.
She wrapped Crisman’s corpse in plastic and placed it inside a recycling bin, occasionally pouring bleach on the remains to mask the smell. The body remained in the basement for months, from December 2022 until September 2023.
In the meantime, Stone continued to collect Crisman’s Social Security benefits, which were deposited into a debit card issued in his name. According to prosecutors, Crisman had requested a replacement debit card for his benefits just days before his death.
After his passing, Stone activated the new card with a new PIN on January 6, 2023, and began using it for personal expenses.
Stone’s Continued Theft
Stone used the debit card for purchases at restaurants, Walmart, The Home Depot, and other stores, as well as withdrawing cash from ATMs.
Between January and September 2023, she spent a total of $7,902 of Crisman’s benefits. Surveillance footage caught Stone using the debit card at a Walmart in Greece, New York, on August 10, 2023, and on June 6, 2023, she was seen withdrawing money from an ATM.
Additionally, she opened a Rent-A-Center account for nearly $1,900 using the card.
Stone didn’t stop there. In February 2023, she falsely recertified Crisman’s information for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, claiming that he still resided with her. This led to her receiving an additional $1,072 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to.
Legal Consequences
Initially facing charges of theft of government funds, aggravated identity theft, and making a false statement to obtain benefits, Stone ultimately reached a plea agreement. She was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci Jr. to 12 months in a federal correctional facility for one count of unlawful conversion of government funds.
Prosecutors acknowledged the disturbing nature of the crime, especially the fact that Stone had concealed Crisman’s body while continuing to steal his benefits.
Stone’s actions demonstrate a disturbing lack of empathy and a willingness to exploit a tragic situation for personal gain. Her sentence reflects the seriousness of her offenses, and she will serve her time for this shocking crime.
