Colorado Couple Sentenced to 5 Years After Hiding Man’s Body Under Air Mattress and Stealing His Social Security Benefits

For nearly 18 months, a Colorado family searched for answers about a missing loved one, unaware that his body was being concealed inside the home where he had lived. James Agnew, 58, and his wife, Suzanne Agnew, 57, have each been sentenced to five years in prison after admitting to hiding the remains of James O’Neill and using his identity to continue accessing his Social Security benefits. The disturbing case came to light in July 2025, when police discovered O’Neill’s remains beneath a deflated air mattress inside the couple’s Lakewood home.

O’Neill had been living with the Agnews in a complicated three-person relationship when he died in December 2023. According to investigators, the couple did not report his death. Instead, they kept his body inside the residence and eventually concealed it in a deflated plastic air mattress secured with tape. Investigators later learned that O’Neill’s remains had initially been left exposed for about a week. Suzanne reportedly told detectives that she moved the body after their dogs began chewing on it. Rather than contacting authorities, the couple continued living in the home while keeping his death secret.

The deception allegedly extended far beyond hiding the body. Prosecutors said the Agnews impersonated O’Neill through phone calls and emails to make others believe he was still alive. They also continued accessing his Social Security payments, which amounted to approximately $967 per month, and used his bank account and debit card for purchases. According to investigators, more than $17,000 was taken after his death. The couple’s actions meant that O’Neill’s family continued searching for him without knowing what had happened.

The investigation began after O’Neill’s brother requested a welfare check in June 2025 because he had been unable to reach him. When police visited the residence, a man identifying himself as James told officers that he did not want contact with the family. However, after reviewing body-camera footage, O’Neill’s brother recognized that the man was not his missing relative. The Agnews subsequently claimed O’Neill had moved away. Investigators then examined suspicious financial activity connected to his account and obtained a search warrant. On July 3, 2025, officers entered the property and discovered his remains beneath the deflated mattress.

Both defendants ultimately pleaded guilty to tampering with a deceased human body and identity theft. James Agnew had previously been sentenced to five years in prison in April 2026, while Suzanne Agnew received the same sentence on November 2, 2026. Each must also serve three years of mandatory parole, with the prison terms for their offenses running concurrently. Prosecutors argued that the prolonged concealment was not simply a moment of panic but a sustained course of deception that compromised evidence surrounding O’Neill’s death and deprived his family of the chance to properly mourn him.

At sentencing, O’Neill’s brother asked the court to remember the person behind the disturbing circumstances of his death. He described Jim as someone who loved, laughed and was deeply missed by those who cared about him. He also said the family had been robbed of the opportunity to grieve and give him a proper farewell. The case has now reached its sentencing stage, but for O’Neill’s relatives, the years spent searching for him and the truth they eventually discovered have left a lasting wound.

Source: PEOPLE