A Colorado couple has been arrested and charged with multiple crimes after allegedly living with the body of their intimate threesome partner for over a year.
James Agnew, 55, and Suzanne Agnew, 57, are accused of keeping the remains of 62-year-old James O'Neill in their home for 18 months after his death in December 2023.
During that time, the couple reportedly continued to use O'Neill's debit card and collected his Social Security payments, The Mirror reported.
The investigation began after O'Neill’s family reported him missing, as they hadn’t heard from him since 2021.
Police initially conducted a welfare check at the Agnews' residence, where a man identified only as "James" spoke with officers.
Authorities later confirmed that the man was actually James Agnew, not O'Neill, as he had implied during the interaction.
When questioned about O'Neill's whereabouts, the Agnews gave conflicting statements, first claiming that O'Neill had left their home years ago to be with a woman he met online.
However, as the investigation progressed, their story began to raise suspicions.
The affidavit revealed that O'Neill's brother reached out to the Agnews about an inheritance deposit that needed to be made into O'Neill's bank account. The couple then claimed that O'Neill had returned to the home but was refusing to speak with his brother.
The victim's brother became more concerned after noticing unusual activity on his brother’s bank account, including Social Security deposits of approximately $17,406 and "numerous" ATM withdrawals, per Law and Crime.
In addition to this, Surveillance footage from a local 7-Eleven showed James Agnew using O'Neill's debit card, prompting cops to take further action.
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The couple was eventually arrested in early July, with Suzanne later confessing to detectives that O'Neill's body was in their home. Officers searched the residence and discovered the remains of a male, later confirmed to be O'Neill.
In her interview with the police, Suzanne admitted that she and James had been in a "three-way relationship" with O'Neill for several years.
"She said they've lived together for many years and have had an intimate relationship with the three of them involved," the affidavit read.
She explained that after O'Neill died in December 2023, the couple covered his body with a deflated air mattress to prevent their dogs, particularly their chihuahuas, from chewing on his remains.
Investigators have concluded that the victim's death was likely due to a medical condition or drug use, and the Agnews are not suspected of causing his death.
However, they are facing numerous charges, including tampering with a deceased body, abuse of a corpse, and theft for the unauthorized use of O'Neill’s financial accounts.
James has also been charged with bringing contraband into a correctional facility, while Suzanne faces additional charges related to theft and financial transactions.
He is scheduled to appear in court on September 2, while his wife's court date is set for August 27.