Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania couple accused of living with dead relative for months to cash his Social Security checks
A Pennsylvania couple is accused of living with their dead relative for months to reap the benefits of his Social Security checks.
The Greene Washington Regional Police Department said James and Debbie Bebout of Canton Township were arrested in the death of James Bebout’s brother, Michael Bebout.
Police paperwork details allegations
According to police paperwork, authorities received a call on Jan. 16 from James Bebout, who said he went to serve his brother breakfast when he found him “stiff as a board.” When officers arrived at the home on Hayes Avenue for a welfare check, DeForte said several red flags were raised.
“Instead of finding the decedent that would have passed away within the last 24 hours, we found the decedent in a state of severe decomposition,” DeForte said.
DeForte said an investigation revealed Michael Bebout had been dead for about six months.
“You have two defendants that we believe knew the decedent had passed that were more interested in reaping the benefits of a governmental check and access to a warm home than they were providing some type of moral and ethical solution to their relative passing,” DeForte said.
During an interview with Debbie Bebout, investigators said she allegedly admitted to knowing Michael Bebout had been dead since around October but did not contact anybody.
“Debbie stated she cashed several of Michael’s $1,200/month Social Security checks in order to pay for food. Debbie stated she was concerned about getting kicked out of the house if Michael was known to have died,” police paperwork stated.
“What we found throughout the investigation was roughly a half a dozen Social Security checks that were cashed by the defendants,” DeForte said.
During an interview with police, Debbie Bebout later admitted to officers that she “actually noticed that her brother-in-law, Michael Bebout, dead around Labor Day 2024.”
She also allegedly told officers that she pretended to take care of Michael Bebout every day so her husband would not find out.
Neighbors say it smelled “awful” outside the home
“We believe, through our investigation, that both defendants were well aware that the decedent was decomposing in the house with them. The smell was so pungent that you could smell it outside of the home prior to entry,” DeForte.
Neighbors described the couple as “bad news” and said that they knew something was wrong when it began to smell outside.
“We smelled an awful smell. We called the gas company, thinking it was a gas leak. Here, it wasn’t a gas leak. It was him. They always had a window cracked, to let the smell out, apparently,” Samuel Burgess said.
Burgess said he was friends with Michael Bebout and knew he had been sick before his death.
“He was a sweetheart. He would do anything for anyone. He would give you his last dollar, his shoes, his shirt, anything. He was a perfect gentleman,” Burgess said.
Dead animals found inside home
Burgess said Michael Bebout had a dog that he loved that also lived in the home.
“There was a little dog. I don’t know what happened to the little dog. He might be in there dead also, yeah, because Michael had a little black puppy dog,” Burgess said.
DeForte said that several dead animals were found inside the home.
“When we conducted the welfare check, we had noticed dead animals that were also severely decomposed throughout the house, that would also have been accompanied by a lot of garbage. A lot of clutter,” DeForte said.
“To have something like this happen in society today is an absolute violation of the human construct. This is both morally and ethically reprehensible,” DeForte said. “In over three decades of my law enforcement career, I have never witnessed something as macabre as what we saw inside of that residence.”
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10, 2026
The 2026 Pennsylvania high school girls basketball state playoffs begin on Tuesday, March 10, with second-round games for all divisions.
High School On SI has brackets for every division in the PIAA high school girls basketball playoffs. The state championships begin on March 19th.
Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10-11, 2026
CLASS 1A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
New Covenant Christian vs. Delaware County Christian – 03/11
Philadelphia Montgomery Christian Academy vs. Benton – 03/11
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional vs. Motivation – 03/11
Linville Hill vs. Southern Fulton – 03/11
Williamsburg vs. Elk County Catholic – 03/11
Farrell vs. Bishop Carroll – 03/11
Clarion-Limestone vs. Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy – 03/11
Bishop Guilfoyle vs. Aquinas Academy – 03/11
CLASS 2A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Shalom Christian Academy vs. Southern Columbia Area – 03/10
Faith Christian vs. Mountain View – 03/10
Wyoming Seminary College Prep vs. Marian Catholic – 03/10
York Catholic vs. Berlin Brothersvalley – 03/10
Neshannock vs. Penns Manor – 03/10
Kennedy Catholic vs. Keystone – 03/10
Bishop McCort vs. Chartiers-Houston – 03/10
Winchester Thurston vs. Wilmington Area – 03/10
CLASS 3A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Imhotep Charter vs. Holy Redeemer – 03/10
Pequea Valley vs. Schuylkill Haven – 03/10
Hughesville vs. Notre Dame-Green Pond – 03/10
Dunmore vs. Executive Education Academy – 03/10
Trinity vs. Troy – 03/10
Northwestern vs. Greensburg Central Catholic – 03/10
Shady Side Academy vs. Beaver Falls – 03/10
Central Cambria vs. Karns City – 03/10
CLASS 4A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Susquehanna Township vs. Universal Audenried Charter School – 03/11
Scranton Prep vs. Allentown Central Catholic – 03/11
Central Columbia vs. Villa Joseph Marie – 03/11
Valley View vs. Neumann-Goretti – 03/11
Delone Catholic vs. Penn Cambria – 03/11
Slippery Rock vs. Oakland Catholic – 03/11
Belle Vernon vs. Blackhawk – 03/11
North Catholic vs. Harbor Creek – 03/11
CLASS 5A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Lampeter-Strasburg vs. Mt. St. Joseph Academy – 03/11
Marple Newtown vs. Crestwood – 03/11
Bethlehem Catholic vs. Villa Maria Academy – 03/11
North Pocono vs. Archbishop Wood – 03/11
York Suburban vs. TBD – 03/11
Peters Township vs. Manheim Central – 03/11
South Fayette vs. Penn-Trafford – 03/11
Baldwin vs. Indiana – 03/11
CLASS 6A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Upper Dublin vs. Perkiomen Valley – 03/10
Hazleton vs. Parkland – 03/10
Easton vs. Red Lion – 03/10
Downingtown West vs. Archbishop Carroll – 03/10
Wilson vs. Cardinal O’Hara – 03/10
Pennsbury vs. Altoona – 03/10
Dallastown vs. Emmaus – 03/10
Canon-McMillan vs. Taylor Allderdice – 03/10
Get even closer to the action by creating a free account. Follow your favorite teams and get score updates, breaking news and alerts when new photo galleries are available.
More Basketball Coverage from High School On SI
West Caln Twp., Pa. (WPVI) — A Pennsylvania State Police Corporal was shot and killed in the line of duty in Chester County Sunday night.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was joined by law enforcement officials outside of Paoli Hospital in paying tribute to Cpl. Timothy O’Connor.
Lt. Colonel George Bivens says O’Connor responded to a call to investigate an erratic driver just after 8 p.m. in Honey Brook.
O’Connor stopped that vehicle the intersection of Compass Road and Michael Road in West Caln Township.
Bivens says O’Connor made a radio call indicating the stop, but did not respond to calls to check on him.
Officers in the area immediately responded and found the situation investigators are calling murder-suicide.
Bivens says within seconds of approaching the stopped vehicle, the driver opened fire, killing O’Connor at the scene.
Investigators say the driver then got out of the vehicle and fatally shot himself.
Authorities tell Action News that officers responded to the scene when the trooper called for backup after shots were fired.
Bivens say O’Connor is a 15-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police.
He leaves behind a wife and young daughter.
Governor Shapiro has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of O’Connor.
Chester County District Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe says the county is assisting with the investigation.
Officials are not releasing the name of the suspect at this time, but say he is a 32-year-old man from Chester County.
They will now be investigating his background and motives, according to de Barrena-Sarobe.
Compass Road is closed between Hill and Lammey Roads as police continue with their investigation.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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