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Sheriff: Family cremated mom on BBQ, kept benefits
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-16 11:13

CORNING, Calif. - The family of a dead elderly woman cremated her remains on a makeshift barbecue and continued collecting her retirement checks amounting to more than $25,000, authorities in Northern California said. Ramona Allmond's daughter and grandson were arrested Sunday on suspicion of embezzlement, elder abuse and disposing of a body without a permit.


Shown in this photo released by the Tehama County Sheriff's Department Wednesday Oct. 15, 2008 is Tony Ray, 30. Authorities say relatives of a deceased Tehama County, Calif., woman cremated her remains on a makeshift barbecue and continued collecting her retirement checks. Ramona Allmond's daughter and grandson, Tony Ray, were arrested Sunday on suspicion of embezzlement, elder abuse and other charges including disposing of a body without a permit. They are being held at the Tehama County Jail in Red Bluff, Calif., on $30,000 bail, with arraignment set for Thursday. [Agencies] 

Allmond, 84, likely died of natural causes, though investigators were still trying to determine the exact cause of death, said Tehama County sheriff's Capt. Paul Hosler.

Allmond's daughter, Kathleen Allmond, 50, and Allmond's grandson, Tony Ray, 30, told investigators their relative died in December. They left her body on her bedroom floor for a week before cremating the remains in their backyard fire pit, Hosler said.

Investigators said the two kept collecting Allmond's monthly retirement checks, amounting to more than $25,000. Sheriff's Detective Richard Knox said they may have been trying to honor Allmond's desire to die at home and be cremated.

The two were arrested after Allmond's son grew suspicious about her whereabouts.

Both were in jail in lieu of bail, with arraignment scheduled for Thursday. The sheriff's department said they do not yet have attorneys.