A Colorado husband and wife have been arrested after allegedly keeping the corpse of their “intimate” threesome partner hidden in their home for roughly 18 months, collecting more than $17,000 in Social Security benefits intended for him.
James David Agnew, 55, and Suzanne Ruth Agnew, 57, of Lakewood, are accused of tampering with a deceased human body and abuse of a corpse. James faces additional charges including theft by larceny over $2,000, financial fraud, and introducing contraband into a correctional facility. Suzanne faces separate theft and financial crime charges between $5,000 and $20,000.
Discovery After Years Without Contact
The bizarre case began when the brother of James O’Neill, 62, contacted Lakewood police in late June for a welfare check. The family had not seen O’Neill since 2019 or spoken with him since 2021.
When officers arrived at the Agnews’ apartment, a man identifying himself as “James” claimed he didn’t want contact with his family. The brother later confirmed the man was not O’Neill, but James Agnew.
Police made a second visit but were not allowed inside. The Agnews gave conflicting stories, claiming O’Neill had once lived there but moved away to be with “a foreign woman.”
Suspicious Banking Activity
The situation escalated when O’Neill’s brother contacted the Agnews about depositing an inheritance into his account. The couple provided O’Neill’s bank and Social Security numbers but refused to let him speak with the brother.
The brother checked the account and found monthly $967 Social Security deposits, regular withdrawals, and purchases linked to James Agnew at a local 7-Eleven.
The Grim Confession
Police arrested James Agnew in early July on an unrelated warrant. When detectives contacted Suzanne with a search warrant, she immediately admitted O’Neill’s body was inside the residence.
Suzanne told investigators the three had been in a long-term “three-way relationship” and lived together for years. O’Neill died in December 2023, reportedly from a medical issue or drug use. The Agnews are not suspected of causing his death.
She claimed she refused to “give him up” and admitted it was wrong not to report his passing. About a week after his death, she said, their chihuahuas began chewing on the corpse, prompting her to cover him with a deflated air mattress.
Financial Motive
Over the next 18 months, the couple allegedly used O’Neill’s debit card to access approximately $17,406 in benefits. James admitted the Social Security payments “were definitely a consideration” in their decision not to report his death.
Both are being held as the investigation continues, in what police have called one of the more disturbing fraud cases they’ve seen in recent years.
