Couple Hid Roommate's Body for 16 Months and Spent His Social Security Payments: Wife Sentenced to 5 Years, Husband Sentenced Earlier
LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Lakewood is in Jefferson County, Colorado. The Colorado First Judicial District Attorney's Office announced on November 2 that Suzanne Agnew was sentenced to five years in prison that day, concluding the related cases against her and her husband James Agnew: the couple concealed the body of James O'Neill, who lived with them, for about 16 months, impersonated him to others, and spent his Social Security payments.
The Agnews told prosecutors that O'Neill died around December 3, 2023, at the South Ammons Street home in Lakewood that he shared with James and Suzanne Agnew. The defendants concealed O'Neill's body in a plastic mattress secured with tape and failed to report his death, preventing his discovery until July 2025.
At times, the defendants impersonated O'Neill in phone or email communications to make others believe he remained alive. They also accessed Social Security payments deposited into his account and used his debit card or card number to make purchases for their own benefit.
The investigation began after O'Neill's brother requested that Lakewood Police conduct a welfare check in June 2025. At the residence, an officer spoke with a man identifying himself as 'James' who said he wanted no contact with the O'Neill family. After viewing body-camera footage, O'Neill's brother confirmed the man was not O'Neill. The Agnews later claimed O'Neill had moved away. After investigating financial transactions involving O'Neill's account, police searched the residence and found his remains beneath a deflated air mattress.
James Agnew, 58, pleaded guilty in March and was sentenced in April; Suzanne Agnew, 57, pleaded guilty in June and was sentenced on November 2. Both pleaded guilty to tampering with a deceased human body and identity theft and each received a five-year prison sentence, to be followed by three years of mandatory parole; counts two through six were dismissed under the plea agreements. Suzanne Agnew has remained in custody since her arrest and received 465 days of presentence confinement credit.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Trevor Moritzky told the court the conduct was a calculated, 16-month course of concealment and financial exploitation, not panic or confusion. District Court Judge Meegan Miloud called the crimes 'morally reprehensible' before sentencing. O'Neill's brother told the court: 'She did not just hide his body. She stole our chance to grieve him.' Suzanne Agnew said she deeply regretted the hurt, damage and uncertainty her actions had caused. (Source: Colorado First Judicial District Attorney's Office)
Source: Colorado First Judicial District Attorney's Office
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Golden 的 Jefferson County 法院大楼（资料图）。Yassie 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Jefferson County Courthouse in Golden (file photo). By Yassie, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
